I have stated consistently that every effort should be made by Irish Rail to develop its rail freight business. Irish Rail's immediate priority is to achieve financial viability for its freight business. The company's strategy is to develop the profitable traffics such as bulk cement and mineral ore concentrates and reshape the loss-making container business. The company informs me that the fortunes of its freight operations have improved considerably in recent times. It has secured two major contracts and is in the process of consolidating those markets which are financially sustainable. It also anticipates that the volume of pulp wood currently handled in Sligo will increase significantly next year.
The allocation of individual pieces of equipment among different Irish Rail facilities is an operational matter for the company itself to decide. Irish Rail has informed me that while it is intended to transfer the container and keg handling operations to the Ballina and Claremorris depots, there are no plans to remove or sell the gantry crane in Sligo. Neither are there any plans to sell off Sligo's freight yard. The effect any of these necessary changes will have on Ireland's commitments under the Kyoto Agreement will be negligible.
