Eire Forging 10—year Transport Plan
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r IRE'S Government have decided to .1-4 formulate a 10-year policy for internal transport. It is believed that the final plan will give effect to most of the recommendations of the Transport Committee of Inquiry (The Commercial Motor, May 17) which advised the abandonment of over half of the rail network of Coras Iompair Eireann, the nationalized transport company. First official comment on the committee's proposals came from the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Sean Lemass, who is in charge of transport. The Government realized, he said, that the country could not afford to operate railways at a continuing annual loss of 12m.
However, they also believed that changes were possible which would reduce, and might eliminate, the operat ing deficiencies. These must involve some curtailment of the railway mileage. Mr. Lemass made it clear that the Government had no intention of following the example of the Northern Ireland Government, which recently decided on abolishing most of their railways "We believe in maintaining a public transport service for freight as well as for passengers," he said.
He suggested that the Ulster Government made a big blunder in deciding to allow unregulated competition in road freight transport, which, he felt, would eventually create far more Problems than it would solve.
it is clear from Mr. Lemass' statement that the reduction of CIE. rail mileage, when it is ordered, will be gradual, probably staggered over 10 years.