Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department has completed its investigation into the collapse of the Broadmeadow Bridge, County Dublin; if he will immediately publish this report; the actions he plans to take in view of the bridge collapse and if he is satisfied with the performance of the Railway Safety Commission; if he has received a report from the Railway Safety Commission on the Broadmeadow collapse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26834/10]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Transport if an audit has been carried out on all railway bridges, track and other rail infrastructure to ensure that they conform to the high safety standards in view of the potential disaster with the collapse of the Broadmeadow Bridge, County Dublin; if any locations on the rail network have been identified as potentially dangerous and in need of urgent repair or upgrade; the current activities of the Railway Safety Commission in terms of monitoring and invigilating safety standard of track and rail infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26835/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 61 together.

With regard to the investigation and report of the Railway Accident Investigation Unit concerning the cause of the collapse of the Malahide Viaduct at Broadmeadows, I refer the deputy to my answer to a parliamentary question on the matter taken on 24 March 2010. Until this statutory investigation by Railway Accident Investigation Unit is complete, it would not be appropriate for me to make any comment on the causes of the bridge collapse or the actions that are required as a result.

Concerning the safety of the railway infrastructure the prime duty of care in this regard is with Irish Rail as the infrastructure manager for the Irish railway network. I understand following the bridge collapse Irish Rail immediately undertook a detailed inspection of 105 structures over water. These surveys were completed in April 2010 and found no further potential for collapse or catastrophic failure of these assets. Follow-on programmes, such as, a detailed review of bridge foundations on the rail network, continue to be carried out.

With respect to the wider network, Irish Rail has developed a suite of key indicators for monitoring track and structural assets, as well as, safety critical activities for the maintenance and inspection of these assets. These performance indicators are monitored and reviewed on a weekly basis. In addition, I understand that the Railway Safety Commission has independently carried out a compliance audit of Irish Rail to identify any organizational issues, actions or foreseeable failures, which may have contributed to the event. A number of recommendations have been made and are being implemented by Irish Rail; the process is being monitored by the Railway Safety Commission.