I would like to allocate some of my time to the Leas-Chathaoirleach who comes from the same midland area that is affected by this very serious problem.
I am calling on the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications to provide extra subvention to Iarnród Éireann to ensure adequate rail services, particularly on the Dublin, Mullingar, Longford and Sligo lines. Since we last spoke about this problem here over 12 months ago, it has also been highlighted by the chambers of commerce in the various towns I mentioned — Longford, Mullingar and Sligo. Only a few days ago we heard on one of the most popular programmes on our national radio station the many views expressed in particular by the Sligo chamber of commerce. This problem is so serious that the chief executive of Iarnród Éireann came back with his team two mornings later to listen to and discuss the various views and objections raised in that public forum.
I come from Mullingar, the main town of the midlands, a town which has been neglected by all parties when it came to decentralisation; to date, there has been decentralisation of Government Departments to Longford, Athlone, Tullamore and Sligo. In my opinion this is mainly because certain members of the Government reside in those areas. I am looking for a commitment from the Minister and his Department to provide an adequate rail service to the main town of the midlands. At present more than 150 people per day travel by train from Mullingar to Dublin; possibly another 50 travel by bus and I believe we have the potential of another 350 who will travel to work in Dublin. This is a perfect example of where we can make a commitment on decentralisation. This potentially massive workforce could work in Dublin and continue to enjoy the facilities of living at home in Mullingar, Castlepollard and all the other villages in the midland area, if a satisfactory rail service was provided. Instead we have a deplorable situation which I do not want to go into in detail now because many people have mentioned it. However, I will state the facts very briefly.
We have a rail line over 50 years old; the train and locomotives are over 30 years old; and part of the line from Dublin to Sligo has a signal system over 100 years old. No reasonable person could expect such a line to function properly and bring passengers to their destinations on time. A speed limit of 50 mph has been introduced and in respect of part of the line at Killucan it has been reduced. People from the Mullingar area going to school or work in Dublin, or coming to the Parliament have to be on time — we all know what the Chief Whip will do with us if we miss the Order of Business. If we are late we cannot blame Iarnród Éireann or the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications.
The reality is that here is a marvellous opportunity to be grasped. We all see the great benefits of the DART, taking 8,000 cars a day off the road; 65,000 people now use the DART. We all know that the service being given to the people living on the east coast by Iarnród Éireann is reasonably good, but everywhere else seems to have a deplorable track record. I am speaking here principally about the Mullingar area, but I want to bring in Longford and Sligo as well. If something is not done about this line quickly it will create a very serious problem for the people who are trying to avail of the present transport system.
On the short journey from Mullingar to Dublin the train is half an hour late every morning — not just one morning but every morning. The Government have given CIE a subvention for 1991 of £108 million in respect of essential public services. That is a very sizeable amount; practically £2 million per week. This represents a substantial level of support for public transport, particularly against the background of scarce Exchequer resources. Of this, over 80 per cent will be expended on railway services. In addition, the 1991 public capital programme provides for capital expenditure by CIE of £36.2 million, of which £5.7 million has been allocated for railway signalling and track replacement.
The allocation of these resources to individual capital programmes within the CIE group is entirely for the board of CIE. The signalling part of this line, as I said, is over 100 years old. But of that substantial amount which the Government have given to Córas Iompair Éireann only 1.2 per cent has been spent on the Sligo line. Politically, this area — whether you take Sligo, Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath or Meath — has represented the Government party very well when it came to votes, but we seem to be doing very badly when it comes to getting our fair share of allocations. Those who think that this is not going to be a major political issue in the midlands — the gateway to the west, as we are known — are only fooling themselves. I am publicly stating here today that I, for one, am making this a major political issue in the next general election. I am calling for substantial funding and a commitment today without reservation. I consider that the people in the midlands and the west are entitled to the same opportunities and are as entitled to live in their home area, as the people in the east or anywhere else.
I have outlined the problem here. The rail service continues to be downgraded because adequate resources have not been made available to renew the track. That is why the speed limit is reduced from 60 mph to 50 mph, and I hope I do not see it down to 40 mph next year. My Seanad colleague will confirm everything I am saying here today, the people in the midlands have gone into this in detail.
There has to be a solution and I hope I have been positive in putting on the record the background to this motion. I am asking the Minister to give a commitment to include the Dublin/Sligo/ Mullingar/Longford railway line in the next EC operational programme on peripherality so that the line will receive the necessary funding from the next issue of EC Structural Funds. I believe that is absolutely essential if this line is to remain open. In the meantime, finances must be made available to ensure that the services survive until the Structural Funds come on stream. On those issues the future of this line depends.
We are seeking to have these lines upgraded because they serve not alone the whole midland and Sligo area but the north-west. This is the main route for exporting industrial products to Europe. Donegal has no railway line, and this is the only line near Donegal, although it is probably 100 miles from the furthest part of Donegal. Do I need to say more? It is also a key access route for the developing tourist industry in the north-west. It is a vital component in the social infrastructure of the north-west and the midlands. At a time when the authorities are battling to come to grips with Dublin's traffic and pollution problems, it makes good sense to ensure that the 150,000 people using the Sligo line every year and the 300,000 people who begin their journeys further up the line, do not transfer to cars and coaches.
I could go on and depress everyone with further unbelievable statistics, but I would just ask the Minister to accept the views I am expressing here sincerely on behalf of the people I represent. There are few Members in Seanad Éireann from the midlands. It is very seldom I raise any matter on the Adjournment. However, this is possibly the most serious issue I have raised on the Adjournment in my ten years in this House, because it concerns the lives and well-being of those who live in our part of the country. I would like to give the rest of my time to Senator Naughten.