Shane Ross under fire after leaking of rail review

Minister for Transport Shane Ross has been heavily criticised following the leaking of a confidential report into the country’s rail network.

Several rail lines may be closed around Ireland due to an Iarnród Éireann funding shortfall, according to reports.

In the rail review, which has yet to be made public, it allegedly states that Iarnród Éireann needs more than €600m over the next five years in ensure its financial stability.

It found that large sections of the rail network will have to close, leaving only the Dart, Dublin and Cork commuter routes and inter-city services from Dublin to Cork, Belfast and Limerick intact.

Mr Ross received a rail review, compiled by the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail some time ago, but has yet to make it public despite calls to do so.

“I have already asked Minister Ross to publish the report in full so that we can have a frank and honest debate about the future of our rail network.

“Unfortunately the minister has refused to publish the report to date,” said Fianna Fáil spokesperson for transport Robert Troy.

“He seemingly has a complete disregard for our transport system and has no vision for the future,” he added.

Mr Troy also asserted that the minister “needs to get to grips with his brief” and called on him to publish the review immediately.

“Minister Ross had the opportunity to discuss this report when he appeared before the Oireachtas Transport Committee last month. His failure to do so is deeply disappointing but not surprising,” Mr Troy said.

“There are growing problems across the transport sector including long delays on the M50 and the prospect of bus service withdrawals in certain areas.

“Minister Ross needs to get to grips with his brief and meet these challenges head on,” he added.

A spokesperson for the minister yesterday told the Irish Examiner that he would bring the report to Cabinet next week.

“As indicated at the Oireachtas Committee on Transport on October 5, last, Minister Ross recently received a copy of the Rail Review conducted by the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail, which examines the funding parameters required to support our rail network now and into the future.

“It is his intention to bring the report to Cabinet next week and to arrange very shortly for its publication and commencement of a public consultation process,” said the spokesperson.

“In the meantime, decisions on Budget 2017 provide for additional funding of over €50 million to Irish Rail next year aimed at increasing investment in maintenance and renewal of the network and the rolling stock, and also to provide more funding for safety projects,” added the spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Social Democrat TD Catherine Murphy yesterday released a statement on traffic congestion in the capital and in it, she referred to the need for an audit of our public transport system.