Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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268. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are limits on the number of passengers an intercity or passenger train can carry; if they are communicated to station staff and passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51920/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The issue raised is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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269. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the relevant health and safety legislation or regulations that apply to the operation of train carriages. [51921/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The railway sector in Ireland is subject to a considerable body of national and EU safety legislation. The essential requirement of the statutory framework is that railways must be run safely and within the regulatory framework which applies to the entire sector, including railway companies, network infrastructure (including rails), rolling stock (including trains and carriages), and any railway operations. Primary responsibility for safe rail operations lies with the relevant rail operator, and is overseen by and subject to the regulatory framework of the Commission for Railway Regulation (CRR), which is the independent, statutory national railway safety regulatory authority for this country.

I understand that the Deputy is specifically interested in the issue of passenger numbers in carriages. Train carriages come within the definition of "rolling stock" under the Railway Safety Act 2005 and are subject to independent safety assessment by the CRR. While there is no specific legislative provision governing capacity for passenger numbers in train carriages, train operators are required to run their services safely and the CRR, as the independent national railway safety authority, can carry out capacity loading inspections of train services to see if passenger numbers are within the design capacity of the rail vehicles.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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270. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Irish Rail maintains public liability insurance for its passengers; and if so, if the insurance policy sets out passenger limits that must be obeyed. [51922/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The issue raised is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.