Vol. 507 No. 2
11 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if the consultant appointed to undertake the independent review of the scope for revenue generation from CIE's property portfolio has reported to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16467/99]
DTZ Sherry Fitzgerald, in association with DTZ Pieda Consulting and O'Hare and Associates, were appointed on 26 May last to undertake the independent review of the scope for revenue generation from the CIE property portfolio. The review is expected to be completed in about six weeks' time.
We still do not know what property CIE has and what property it can or is willing to sell. As a result, we do not know what amount it can contribute to the Minister's substantial investment programme. When will it all come together? This has been going on for some time.
In six weeks. In line with EU directives, the EU was obliged to go through a tendering process—
That was not necessary to establish what property was in the portfolio.
It was. Sherry Fitzgerald won the contract and it expects to have the review ready in six weeks, which is quite prompt. I cannot do more than that.
What plans does the Minister have to use some of this money to provide integration in the rail service in Dublin? Does she agree that the proposed national convention centre on the CIE treasury holding site offers a unique opportunity to provide a central station which would integrate all rail services?
That question does not arise under Question No. 11.
It does, because it must be paid for by the property.
It does not. The question relates to the review of CIE's property portfolio.
That is what I am discussing, the CIE property portfolio.
We cannot go into detail about what might be in that document.
This relates to the spending of the money. Does the Minister intend to make that decision, which would provide a framework for future rail investment decisions in Ireland? The key decision is about the central station in Dublin.
It does not arise under this question. I call Deputy Yates.
It does not relate to the question before me.
The Minister does not have an answer.
Is it an accurate recollection that the Minister asked CIE to investigate the property position? CIE came back to her with a report. What was in that report which led the Minister to commission her own report? Will she publish the CIE report? She is now having a report compiled on a report. Will she confirm that CIE produced its property report and that she did not like it? Why did she not like it?
It is not that I did not like it, there was a Cabinet decision to carry out an independent review—
What was wrong with the original report that there had to be an independent review?
At the Minister's request.
No, it was a Cabinet decision.
What was wrong with the CIE review?
I do not know if there was anything wrong with it. The Cabinet decided. There were three Cabinet decisions with regard to the £450 million five year programme on railway safety. The first was that all railway lines would be kept intact and operational, the second was that there would be an annual subvention from the Exchequer towards the CIE safety operating programme and the third was to carry out an independent evaluation of the CIE property portfolio.
When the review of the review is completed, will the Minister ensure that CIE is not allowed to sell land which will be needed for future developments, such as park and ride facilities—
Or for central stations.
—as occurred in Maynooth where CIE is now purchasing land, having previously sold land for housing?
The criteria laid down for the Sherry Fitzgerald review include future potential development, reopening of old stations and park and ride facilities.
They did not like the report they got previously, so they got another one.
I should think so. Does the Deputy object?
The Government did not like it.
