I appointed independent consultants to carry out a strategic review of rail safety earlier this year. The review was undertaken by a consortium of consultants led by International Risk Management Services. It is a comprehensive report and addresses all relevant aspects of rail safety. The consultants' brief required them to consider the adequacy of Iarnród Éireann's existing safety policy, systems, rules and procedures and its arrangements for implementing safety rules and procedures on the ground. They also considered the adequacy from a safety viewpoint of the existing railway infrastructure and facilities, including track, signalling systems, rolling stock and level crossings. I have just received the report and made copies available to Members of the Oireachtas. It has also been published.
The consultants concluded that the condition of much of the track, signalling and other infrastructure was poor, while the condition of the rolling stock was on the whole satisfactory. The most serious deficiency highlighted in the report is the lack of a systematic approach to identifying safety hazards and prioritising and implementing remedial action. The consultants found that an encouraging start had been made at senior management level on implementing a systematic approach to addressing safety on the railway. They stressed the importance, however, of improving the approach to safety management on the railway and creating a safety culture that reaches every facet of the company's activities. They emphasised that safety related investment in the railway infrastructure, while necessary, will not be enough. The company also needs to tackle the management aspects of safety.
The consultants estimate that a 15 year safety investment programme costing of the broad order of £590 million will be required. About £23 million of this needs to be spent immediately. This overall expenditure requirement includes about £230 million for a programme of improvements to rectify safety deficiencies in the railway infrastructure, including track, signalling, bridges and level crossings; about £60 million to improve safety management systems and £20 million per annum over the 15 year period for ongoing renewal of the permanent way.
The Government has decided to establish immediately a high level task force comprised of officials of my Department, the Department of Finance and CIE to prioritise recommendations on necessary rail safety expenditure requirements. This will be completed by the end of January. In the meantime CIE is to begin implementation of the report's recommendations giving particular attention to the immediate safety needs identified by the consultants. Pending consideration by the Government of the task force report, CIE has been authorised to undertake the necessary borrowings to finance the implementation of safety measures. I have also begun the process of recruiting two additional railway inspecting officers for my Department.