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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Cahir scouts on overcrowded train

Summary

Mattie McGrath describes a scouting group’s unsafe and overcrowded return train journey after paying for prebooked tickets. Transport Minister of State Brendan Griffin asks for the details and says he will contact Irish Rail, while reaffirming support for scouting.

It is on the programme for Government and relates to transport safety. I do not know where the Minister, Deputy Ross, is. Last weekend Cahir scouts, beavers and cubs travelled to Dublin by train. There were 35 scouts and cubs, along with seven gallant leaders who do great work. On the return journey with prebooked tickets, they had no seats. The train did not even have the carriage numbers that were printed on their tickets. They had to sit on tables, under tables, in bathrooms and on the floor, which is highly dangerous. They paid €1,500 for this trip.

I want the Taoiseach and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to investigate this because the lives of the children and other passengers were put at serious risk. This is happening regularly but this time it affected 35 small children, daoine óga, and their gallant scout leaders. They paid for prebooked tickets. Two carriages were missing from the train for which they had tickets for the return journey. This is an outrageous situation for Irish Rail. The very least the company can be forced to do is to reimburse the scout troop in Cahir and do something about the safety issues. I am getting calls from all over the country. It is happening regularly. This issue has been aired on Joe Duffy's radio programme and elsewhere. It is outrageous.

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Pat the Cope Gallagher An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Fianna Fáil

Perhaps a parliamentary question would be appropriate. I call the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

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Brendan Griffin Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Fine Gael

If the Deputy could pass me on the details, I would be happy to make direct-----

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I have written to the senior Minister.

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If the Deputy could pass them on to me as well, I would be happy to make direct contact with Irish Rail. On the issue of scouting, even though it is a difficult time at the moment we support scouting. Through the sports capital programme many scouting groups throughout the country recently received substantial funding. I recognise the great work they do throughout the country.

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