asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if the Government have received a request from CIE for authorisation to acquire new rolling stock, which is badly needed for certain lines; if such authorisation has been granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The assessment of the CIE proposals for acquiring new rolling stock is nearing completion in my Department. I expect to reach a decision in the matter in the near future.

What directions are to be taken given that the matter is almost completed? Will the Minister give us a brief preview?

The Deputy is aware that in April 1981 the Government approved a proposal from CIE to build 124 mainline carriages at Inchicore. The production of those carriages is continuing and by the end of this year 98 of them will have been completed which, as the Deputy will realise, is a very substantial proportion of the original order.

Will the Minister advise the House whether the proposal referred to by his predecessor in June 1986 relating to a request by CIE to acquire new diesel rail cars has been carried through?

No, that is precisely the area referred to in my reply. A decision is expected in the very near future. That is not a cliché because I mean the very near future.

Will the Minister assure the House that it is his intention to enhance the rail service and that the proposals before him will not involve any downgrading of CIE's rail services to the public?

I can assure the Deputy that the decisions will be progressive as far as CIE are concerned.

Is the Minister in a position to say whether the Government have directed the new diesel engines should be from an Irish source?

There will be a general directive from my Department — as was the case when my predecessor was in office — that as far as possible all materials used by CIE, or any other semi-State company, should be from an Irish source.