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

I think this is the question Deputy Mac Giolla foreshadowed. On 29 June 1987 I approved a proposal by CIE to modify their mainline carriage building programme to enable 24 carriages to be built for push/pull operations. In the meantime the board have not made any request for authorisation in relation to rail rolling stock.

I understood from the Minister's reply that in 1987 there was a request from CIE to acquire new diesel rail carriages, that the Minister was considering it actively and expected to have his consideration completed fairly rapidly. Has that proposal now been abandoned? Has the shortage of rolling stock which existed in CIE last year been overcome?

The original sanction was for 124 mainline carriages. Then CIE changed that to 100 mainline carriages and 24 to be fitted for push/pull operations. My Department gave that permission and that work is in progress at the moment.

Is the Minister satisfied that when that is completed the shortage of rolling stock will be overcome? I am sure he is aware that rolling stock had to be borrowed from Northern Ireland railways because of grave shortages of stock on the part of CIE.

It is true that Iarnród Éireann and Northern Ireland railways have a good working relationship and push/pull units from Northern Ireland were introduced on the Bray/Greystones and Dublin/Maynooth lines in November 1987 and on the Cork/Cobh line in December, three train sets in all. The 24 push/pull units which I authorised them to build last year will be finished in 1989.

I understand CIE are unhappy with the high number of old trains and old carriages which are on the lines. Are there any plans for new carriages?

The hundred new mainline carriages will remedy that defficiency.

Have they been completed?

I think they have been completed and that they are working on the 24 push/pull units. I will check that for the Deputy and let him know.