Written answers
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Rail Network
5:00 am
Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 207: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the proposed figure expected to fund the upkeep, maintenance and any other works on the Irish Rail Network bridges following the report conducted by Iarnroid Ãireann following the Malahide, County Dublin, viaduct collapse in August 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18054/11]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The upkeep and maintenance of rail bridges is funded under the Railway Safety Programme from my Departments capital budget for transport.
The 3rd Railway Safety Programme, 2009 to 2013, estimated a funding requirement of â¬513 million of which â¬443 million was for infrastructure investment and â¬70 million for the enhancement of safety management systems, including human performance. The allocation for the Programme for 2011 is â¬108 million.
A full report into the Malahide viaduct incident was completed in 2010, and a series of recommendations were made in areas such as future inspection standards and their implementation, training of key personnel, risk assessment of railway structures and the provision of physical and flood protection for structures at high risk.
Significant changes have now taken place within Iarnrod Eireann and within the Railway Safety Programme to address the issues identified in the report. There has been a substantial reorganisation of the IE Civil Engineering department including the appointment of a new Chief Civil Engineer and a Technical Manager for civil engineering. The Technical Manager is accountable for the safety of track and infrastructure. A thorough review of technical standards is being conducted, as well as compliance verification in areas such as inspection standards and a new competency management process is being implemented to ensure enhanced training of civil engineering staff. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport my responsibility is for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. While the Railway Safety Programme and its funding level will be reviewed in the context of the Capital Review, which is currently underway, the first priority for use of scarce funds will be to protect and maintain existing investments and to maintain high safety standards.
Iarnród Eireann has made a submission to the Department regarding their priorities for funding under the transport capital programme and final decisions will be made in the context of the new National Development Plan to be published in the Autumn.
In addition, my Department, in conjunction with Iarnród Eireann, is committed to carrying out this year a Mid-Term Review of the 3rd Railway Safety Programme.
No comments