Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2013
6. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the investment, if any, that is planned for Irish Rail over the coming year in view of the recent announcements from the National Roads Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22970/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis question is about planned investment in Irish Rail in the light of recent announcements on roads investment. I assume the Deputy is referring to the recent signing of a public private partnership road contract. This is the first transport PPP since 2007 and provides a significant confidence boost and evidence of continuing recovery in the economy. In implementing the Government's medium-term capital framework, my Department and agencies will continue to explore and maximise the use of external funding sources where possible.
There is, however, currently no proposal for any PPP in the public transport area although the matter is being kept under review. Unfortunately, due to the economic difficulties, the PPP processes for the DART underground heavy rail project and the metro north light rail project had to be cancelled. Both projects, which are very expensive and required very significant Exchequer contributions, will be reviewed again in advance of the next capital programme.
With the reduced capital funding available to my Department the priority for public transport is to ensure that existing investment is protected and safety standards are maintained. Beyond this, all available funding will be targeted to support affordable, best value projects which complement and leverage existing infrastructure and contribute to economic recovery. This is why funding has been allocated for the Luas cross-city project which will allow the creation of a Luas network.
Iarnród Éireann is still receiving significant Exchequer support for investment in infrastructure in 2013. A total of €137 million is being provided this year, including approximately €90 million towards the railway safety programme. The remainder is being spent on projects which improve journey times and provide better facilities for passengers such as the upgrading or elimination of level-crossings, automation of ticketing systems and improved passenger information systems, upgrading the city centre signalling system, accessibility improvements at Charleville station and the opening of Oranmore and Hansfied stations.
I thank the Minister of State. Given that he mentioned Oranmore he might update us on the proposals for Crusheen rail stop on the western rail corridor. The Minister of State will be aware the intended plan was for a network that would include metro north as part of our rail infrastructure. I understand it is not possible in the current economic crisis to raise the kind of funding needed to develop metro north. Has any effort been made to consider possible alternatives that would connect the city centre with Dublin Airport? There was a proposal dating back some time from Iarnród Éireann to extend a spur from the DART to Dublin Airport and it was relatively inexpensive by comparison to the metro north project. Perhaps the Minister of State could update us on that project.
Until the next capital programme is being considered we will not look at alternatives in regard to the DART or metro north. I am aware of the proposal for a spur to Dublin Airport to which the Deputy referred. The viability of that being included in the next capital programme is something we will have to consider closer to the date but I can confirm to the Deputy that we are not examining that proposal in any way at present because we simply do not have the funds.
I refer to Crusheen. Discussions are ongoing in respect of a number of related issues with which the Deputy will be familiar. I am hopeful for progress in that regard in the near future.
We have just seen the prioritisation of even further investment for roads, with rail being sidelined once again. The service has been downgraded and the ultimate viability of rail has been diminished, with negative prospects for existing jobs and long-term sustainable transport solutions. Did the cost-benefit analysis and the final political decision for the NRA project take account of the negative impact of the projects on corresponding rail services in terms of diminished competitiveness of rail journey times and, thereby, on the long-term viability of those rail services? How were the relative priorities for overall transport investment decided? Was comparative cost effectiveness analysis carried out when NRA expenditure was being decided? How much of the investment planned in Iarnród Éireann is for essential ongoing maintenance and how much for infrastructural upgrades or new developments that would lead to service improvements?
I understand that during the impact assessment period in respect of these projects impact assessment on other services is analysed. However, I would not like the Deputy to conclude that rail services are diminishing in regard to the type of service offered. To reiterate, we simply do not have the money for capital investment but a great deal of other work is taking place and we have put a lot of money into railway safety and related enhancements.
Railway safety is possibly not fully descriptive of what really happens because a range of work is done under that heading.
We have improved speeds on a number of mainlines and one can, for example, travel from Dublin to Cork in a good time. The Dublin-Galway route has been considerably improved, as have other routes. Work has also been done to improve passenger experience, whether by offering Wi-Fi on trains-----
It never works.
It has worked for me.
The Minister of State was in a first class carriage.
I was never in one of those. He might tell me about them sometime. He might also tell me how often he takes the train.
I will when the Minister of State brings it to Crusheen.
Onboard facilities have improved dramatically. It is all about improving the passenger experience to attract more people to the network.
It takes two hours and 40 minutes to get to Wexford.
