asked the Minister for Transport when it is expected that the McKinsey Report on the operation of CIE will be completed; and the estimated cost of the report at present.

44.

asked the Minister for Transport the proposed date of publication of the McKinsey Report on CIE; and the subjects to be covered in the report.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 44 together.

The cost up to the end of August 1980 of the study of CIE's financial position which is being carried out by the consultants McKinsey and Company, was approximately £363,000 sterling. The report will cover CIE's main transport activities, that is, the railway, road passenger and road freight services. I expect that the report will be completed by the consultants within the next few weeks. The Deputy will appreciate that the report must be submitted to Government prior to publication.

Does the Minister propose to have that report published?

After the Government consider it.

Has the Minister seen a preview of the report in question or portions of it?

Just one portion so far.

Does that portion refer to the railways?

No.

What did it refer to?

Buses.

Is it value for money?

Can we take it that the newspaper reports which indicate that people saw sections of the report which referred to the railway system here are inaccurate?

I did not see it and I cannot understand how anybody else could have seen it. What the newspapers possibly referred to was a range of options being discussed at meetings between consultants, the management and the trade unions.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.