asked the Minister for Transport when he expects the findings of the departmental inquiry into the Buttevant train disaster to be published.

10.

asked the Minister for Transport the additional safety measures that have been brought into operation by CIE on the railways since the Buttevant rail disaster; and if the use of manually operated points on main-lines has been completely banned.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.

The report of the investigation under the Railways Acts into the accident which occurred at Buttevant on 1 August 1980 is expected to be completed early in 1981. The report will be published as soon as possible after completion.

CIE have confirmed that on main lines the operation of new points awaiting connection to signal cabins is prohibited except where the use of such points may be essential in connection with installation or maintenance works. In such circumstances the points may be operated manually subject to compliance with rules and regulations under which there would be a stoppage of general railway traffic over the section of line concerned during the period when the points were being used.

The extent to which safety conditions of this kind were adhered to at Buttevant is, of course, one of the matters coming within the scope of the formal investigation. I have at this stage an assurance from CIE that they have taken all steps to ensure that the conditions I have specifically mentioned are fully observed.

Would the Minister agree that the manual operation of points should be banned on main lines in all cases?

I understand from CIE that there are regulations attaching to the operation of all types of points and that these regulations are being implemented.