State fleet to stay?
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IRELAND could retain its State-owned road haulage fleet even ii expected, semi-State transport company Coras lompair Eirean divided into separate undertakir gs.
Whatever the outcome of next mended that CIE's road frei month's Irish general election, ot is thought highly likely that CIF. will be divided up as recommended earlier this year by international consultants McKinsey Inc.
Dublin sources say that if the ruling Fianna Fail party returns to power, a Transport Bill will be laid before the Dail (parliament) in October, but if the opposition Fine Gael/Labour coalition is elected instead, the move will take place around March next year.
There has been a considerable move by CIE to prevent the split up, but the Irish civil service is believed to have become so convined of the need to form a new structure, that even a new government is unlikely to be able to reverse the current.
But, while McKinsey recom operations be abandoned in face of private sector comp tion, it is thought likely now 1 a separate semi-state haul company will be establishec carry on and develop CIE's k operations.
Several private hauliers in land have voiced their fears if CIE, as one of the most rep ble haulage concerns in country, should disappear, t the level of acceptable opera will fall, and the already p safety record of Irish lor could deteriorate further.
On top of that, it is likely I an autonomous haula concern would thrive freed ft the constraints of railv orientation, in much the SE way as National Carriers hay Britain.