Vol. 552 No. 1
112 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her Department has received a report in relation to the collapse of bridge structures on to the Maynooth suburban rail line on 9 April 2002; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the works involved form part of the Celbridge interchange works; the measures which have been put in place to prevent a reoccurrence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12036/02]
Iarnród Éireann contacted a railway inspecting officer of my Department at 00.30 hours on Wednesday, 10 April 2002 to inform her of the collapse of a section of a bridge onto the railway line near Louisa Bridge railway station.
I am informed that the road-over-rail bridge is being constructed by Kildare County Council as part of the Celbridge interchange road scheme. Prior to the commencement of the construction work, the design and construction methods of the bridge were agreed between Kildare County Council and Iarnród Éireann and approved by the railway inspectorate of my Department.
I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that three bridge units collapsed onto the railway and canal at approximately 22.40 hours on 9 April 2002. Iarnród Éireann also stated that the company, the Health and Safety Authority, Kildare County Council and their contractors and consultants are carrying out an investigation, including a simulation off site, of the conditions at the time of the incident under the guidance of an independent engineer. Construction work has been suspended on the bridge site until the cause of the incident has been identified.
A railway inspecting officer visited the site on Thursday, 11 April and has since written to Iarnród Éireann seeking further details of the incident.
