Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Transport when the 120 new intercity rail cars ordered by Iarnród Éireann in 2005 and announced as part of a €460 million rail investment package will be operational; if there has been a delay in the delivery of the new intercity rail cars due to safety concerns; if any of the rail cars have been returned to the manufacturers (details supplied) to eliminate safety flaws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29550/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The current position regarding the delivery of the 183 new intercity railcars is that Iarnród Éireann has taken delivery of 60 of the cars and is currently preparing for the introduction of 9 into service on the Dublin-Sligo route. The remainder of the new fleet will be delivered and brought into service by the Spring of 2009.

Iarnród Éireann has to secure acceptance of the Safety assessment of the new rolling stock from the Railway Safety Commission before it can be introduced into service. The deployment of the railcars on particular services is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. I have been advised by Iarnród Éireann that none of the railcars have been returned to the manufacturers.