Vol. 1009 Wednesday, No. 5 30 June 2021 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 30/06/2021A00100Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters 573 30/06/2021A00225Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate 574 30/06/2021A00250Rail Network 574 30/06/2021B00250Local Authorities 576 30/06/2021C00300Mental Health Services 578 30/06/2021R00400Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions 608 30/06/2021V00500Estimates for Public Services 2021: Message from Select Committee 617 30/06/2021V00650Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation 617 30/06/2021Y02200Ban on Rent Increases Bill 2020: First Stage 626 30/06/2021Z00800Presentation of Estimates: Motion 627 30/06/2021Z01150Estimates for Public Services 2021 628 30/06/2021Z01500Ceisteanna - Questions 628 30/06/2021Z01600Cabinet Committees 628 30/06/2021BB00300Anglo-Irish Relations 633 30/06/2021CC00200Cabinet Committees 637 30/06/2021DD00400Post-European Council Meeting: Statements 640 30/06/2021HHH00300Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages 690 30/06/2021NNN00100 Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages 700 30/06/2021QQQ03200Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages 715 30/06/2021LLLL00100Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������758 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 30 Meitheamh 2021 Wednesday, 30 June 2021 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 0910 am Paidir. Prayer. 30/06/2021A00100Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters 30/06/2021A00200An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I wish to advise the House of the following matters in re- spect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Verona Murphy - to discuss if the Barrow railway bridge in County Wex- ford will remain in a working position during the national strategic rail review; (2) Deputies Mairéad Farrell, Catherine Connolly and Éamon Ó Cuív - to discuss the need for an ambulance base located centrally in Connemara to ensure all of Connemara is covered all of the time; (3) Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - to discuss the need for Government supports to ensure work- ers are kept on by companies during runway works at Cork Airport; (4) Deputy Brian Stan- ley - to discuss the national broadband plan and its expected connection targets for 2021; (5) Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - to discuss continuing water quality issues at Barndarrig, County Wicklow; (6) Deputy Pádraig O’Sullivan - to ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a review into the boundary expansion between Cork city and County Cork can be undertaken; (7) Deputy Pat Buckley - to discuss the closing of the Owenacurra health facility in Midleton, County Cork; (8) Deputy Thomas Gould - to discuss the loss of addiction detox and rehabilitations beds during Covid-19 and the need to establish State-run, secular facilities; (9) Deputies Paul Murphy, Gino Kenny, Richard Boyd Barrett and Bríd Smith - to discuss the planned four-day working week pilot programme; and (10) Deputy Pauline Tully - to dis- cuss the funding crisis at the Family Addiction Support Network which covers counties Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan The matters raised by Deputies Verona Murphy, Pádraig O’Sullivan and Pat Buckley have been selected for discussion 30/06/2021A00225Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate 573 Dáil Éireann 30/06/2021A00250Rail Network 30/06/2021A00300Deputy Verona Murphy: I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Af- fairs, Deputy Colm Brophy, for coming in to take this Topical Issue matter I am glad to raise it on behalf of my constituents The Barrow railway bridge is a historic structure connecting the counties of Wexford and Kilkenny along the currently disused Rosslare to Waterford railway line It opened in 1906 and it closed to passenger traffic in 2010. The maintenance arrangement with Irish Rail was to maintain the line for ten years after closure Last winter, I asked in a parliamentary question if the maintenance arrangement for the line could be extended until a decision had been made on its future I am pleased to report that in 2021, a weed spraying train passed along the line from Rosslare to Waterford, across the Barrow bridge I hope this maintenance will continue For the benefit of those who are not familiar with the bridge itself, it has a section in the centre that can turn 90 degrees to open the bridge to allow boats to pass through There has been much debate, particularly in recent times, about the future of the line and what that will be Some people would like to see a return to rail services linking the south east with the rest of Ireland and a proper service while others would like to see the line turned into a greenway to connect to Waterford and to the Dungarvan greenway The third option is to develop a green- way alongside the rail line The result of the rail review will help inform the next steps in that regard, but regardless of which of the three options are chosen, it will be necessary for the Barrow bridge to be main- tained and remain in operational condition It cannot be allowed to deteriorate and it should not be left in the open position, if it is not designed as such and if that has the potential to damage the mechanism Given the fact there is an ongoing review, which is examining the potential to reopen the railway line, can the Minister of State commit to ensuring that the bridge is left in the closed position until the results of the rail review have been completed and a decision has been made on the rail line’s future? 30/06/2021A00500Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs(Deputy Colm Brophy): I thank Deputy Murphy for giving me the opportunity to discuss this issue in the House today As many Members will be aware, rail services on this particular line ceased operation in 2010 under an agreement between the National Transport Authority, NTA, and Iarnród Éireann A number of improvements were made to bus services in the area at the time to ensure continued public transport connectivity A number of parties have raised concerns that the decision to maintain the Barrow bridge in the current open position means that services may never again run on this line I do not wish to give false hope to anyone with regard to any imminent return of services but I would like to clarify that the decision to maintain the bridge in an open position is a prag- matic one, based on the fact that the line has now been closed for more than ten years During this time, Iarnród Éireann has continued to maintain the Barrow bridge and has operated it for maritime activity related to the Port of New Ross. The open position of the bridge reflects the need to ensure easy navigational access to the port In the absence of any rail services on the line, it is entirely appropriate that the right of way should be given to the marine traffic to pass through the bridge unencumbered 574 30 June 2021 Since the decision to close the line, a number of revised arrangements were agreed between the NTA and Iarnród Éireann relating to the line These arrangements include obligations to review the level of crossing services each year, reviewing the boundary protection along the line each year, and conducting bridge inspections every two years, in line with Iarnród Éire- ann’s technical standards In addition, the agreement between the NTA and Iarnród Éireann requires a general review of the line to be undertaken annually The purpose of the review is to assess the overall condition of the line so as to be able to provide a current status assessment of the infrastructure each year The revised arrangements also provide that the Barrow bridge be maintained in an open position I would like to reassure the Deputy that the planned securing of the bridge in the open posi- tion is a temporary measure and in no way removes the future functionality of the bridge for carrying rail traffic, should services on this line resume. Neither, I stress, does it in any way impede consideration of the line in the context of the strategic rail review I understand larnród Éireann will ensure the continued functionality of the bridge through scheduled movements, which will allay any potential concerns that may exist as regards the permanency of train’s position Furthermore, the design of the mechanism is such that