Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 550: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consult with Bord na Móna and officials in the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism on the matter of the proposed closure by Bord na Móna of the Clonmacnoise and west Offaly railway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39440/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This is an operational matter for the Board of Bord na Móna plc. However, I have obtained information from the company on the issue on behalf of the Deputy.

Bord na Móna advises that the company has operated the Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway (CWOR) since 1990. It has operated from April to September each year and consisted of a guided rail coach tour around 10 kilometres of Bord na Móna's industrial rail line giving a history of the formation, use and after-use of the area's bogland.

The CWOR has been operated on a section of the Bord na Móna rail network, which serves the West Offaly Power Station at Blackwater Works. This rail line is the transport mechanism for supplying the power station with milled peat for energy generation. Because the power station is now operating to its full capacity, the level of supply related rail traffic on this line has increased substantially in the last year and is set to continue at this level. Bord na Móna advises that, for legal Health and Safety reasons, a passenger service cannot now be operated on the same line as the industrial service operating at full capacity. Therefore, Bord na Móna advises that there is regrettably, no option but to close the CWOR.

Three regular staff were employed seasonally on the CWOR for the duration of the tourism season with two casual staff engaged as needed to cater for peak demand. The regular staff have been offered the opportunity to redeploy to other positions in Bord na Móna. I am advised that Bord na Móna is already working closely with Fáilte Ireland on developing plans for eco-tourism related projects for cutaway bogs in the Mid-Shannon Region taking account also of the fact that Clonmacnoise is set to become a World Heritage Site.