The Dáil Public Accounts Committee has heard that a €50 million write-off by Iarnród Éireann of a failed IT project is an "absolute scandal".
The rail company has written down the value of the planned IT system, due to ongoing issues with the delivery of the project.
The committee agreed to call in the National Transport Authority and Iarnród Éireann to an early hearing to discuss the matter.
With around 600 passenger trains operating on the rail network every day, traffic management is central to efficient oversight of the service provided by the company.
But long-standing concerns about the ability of the Indra company to deliver on the terms of a contract for a new system to manage rail traffic have come to a head.
It is understood that after several missed deadlines, Iarnród Éireann has written down the total anticipated costs of the project in its latest accounts.
The issue, first reported by The Irish Times, was the focus of much comment at this morning’s committee meeting.
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Chair of the Public Accounts Committee Sinn Féin TD John Brady said the issue exposed a serious failure in terms of governance and oversight - by a multitude of agencies.
Fine Gael Deputy James Geoghegan said it was incumbent on the committee to find out where accountability lies.
Fianna Fáil's Seamus McGrath said the sum was a "staggering amount of money" and he said it was disappointing that it was revealed in the media rather than through official channels.
Fine Gael's Grace Boland said the issue called into question the oversight of procurement at Iarnród Éireann and she said it was very alarming that the impairment will be double the IT budget.
She said the company had no confidence in the project which was all about safety.
Iarnród Éireann says its priority is to deliver the Transport Management System (TMS).
The National Transport Authority, which is the approving authority for such projects, is to be called before the Public Accounts Committee to discuss the matter.
The Department of Transport and the Chief Information Officer will also be called in to discuss the write-off.
Iarnród Éireann does 'not have confidence in the current supplier'
The Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann has confirmed that the company does not have confidence that a firm contracted to provide a €50 million rail TMS can deliver the project.
Speaking in Cork Mary Considine said there was "an impairment" reflected in draft accounts submitted to the Minister for Transport in relation to the planned rollout of a new TMS.
This centred on a "lack of confidence in the supplier to develop the software element" of the improvements.
The Spanish based Indra Group was given the contract to develop the system, for a new national control centre at Heuston Station, in 2020.
The contract included the design, supply, installation and commissioning of the system, as well as the responsibility of maintaining it for a 15 year period.
The upgrade is needed to enhance and future-proof the rail network for further expansion.
It would replace existing infrastructure and link signalling points across the country’s train tracks, feeding data back to the control centre.
Initially valued at €32 million, it is understood total costs of the planned works subsequently increased to around €50 million.
The project has been subject to lengthy delays and the Indra Group has missed several deadlines in relation to the commissioning of the system.
Ms Considine said she could not confirm reports that a total of €50 million had been written off in draft accounts provided to the Government, as she said they were still subject to ministerial sign-off.
But she said the accounts did have an "impairment" reflected in them.
She emphasised the need for a new transport management system and said all available options were being looked at in that regard.
"We do not have confidence in the current supplier to deliver the project so we need to look at all available options to us at this stage," she said.
