The Dáil Public Accounts Committee is set to investigate Iarnród Éireann after the national rail company reported a substantial write-off linked to a failed IT project. The planned Transport Management System (TMS), intended to improve oversight of Ireland’s rail network, has been delayed, prompting an "impairment" in the company’s accounts.
The committee has agreed to call in both Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority for an early hearing to examine the issue. With around 600 passenger trains operating daily, effective traffic management is critical to the smooth running of the rail system.
Concerns have long been raised about the ability of the Spanish-based Indra Group, contracted in 2020 to deliver the system, to meet project deadlines. The contract included the design, installation, commissioning, and 15-year maintenance of the new national control centre at Heuston Station. Initially valued at €32 million, the project’s total anticipated costs eventually rose to approximately €50 million.
The delays and missed deadlines culminated in the recent write-down, which has sparked strong reactions among politicians. Sinn Féin TD and committee chair John Brady described the situation as exposing “a serious failure in terms of governance and oversight – by a multitude of agencies.”
Fine Gael Deputy James Geoghegan said the committee must “find out where accountability lies,” while Fianna Fáil’s Seamus McGrath called the sum “a staggering amount of money” and criticised the fact that the news emerged through the media rather than official channels.
Fine Gael’s Grace Boland added that the situation raises serious questions about procurement oversight at Iarnród Éireann, noting that the impairment “will be double the IT budget” and highlighting the project’s safety-critical nature.
Iarnród Éireann’s Chief Executive Mary Considine confirmed the company has “no confidence in the current supplier to deliver the project,” citing a lack of confidence in Indra’s ability to develop the software component of the system. She said the accounts submitted to the Minister for Transport reflect an “impairment” relating to the planned rollout, though final figures are still subject to ministerial approval.
Ms Considine emphasised the importance of the TMS for enhancing and future-proofing the rail network, noting that the project would replace outdated infrastructure and connect signalling points nationwide to the control centre. She added that all options are being considered to ensure the system’s delivery.
The National Transport Authority, the Department of Transport, and the Government’s Chief Information Officer will also be called to appear before the Public Accounts Committee as part of the investigation.
