Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives of West-on-Track and Iarnród Éireann for giving their presentations. What I have always found is that those areas, particularly the north west and the west, along that corridor, are the poor mouth of the transport system. The road networks did not have an impact from Sligo up to Derry in particular, but they certainly have had a big effect on other areas.

The witnesses mentioned the environmental bonus, and obviously there is an argument there in terms of the effect on the environment for trying to utilise this particular route. Is it apparent what impact the road network has had on moving this forward? Are there any indicators in terms of the number of jobs this would create? Would extra rail freight or stock be needed? I know there are no issues on subvention.

Regarding the landowners, it has been said it would cost €30 million to do this section. Are there issues with landowners or rights to land that has not been utilised a lot?

As regards TEN-T funding, the issue that has been cropping up is whether there is any scope to obtain in? It was intended to be available for big projects in certain areas.

The Galway to Claremorris line is extremely important, but it is also important to create connectivity between Claremorris and Sligo. The delegates are saying there is great scope for freight services.

The forgotten area is that extending from Sligo to Derry and Donegal. This morning I was listening to a businessman on Raidió na Gaeltachta saying no jobs were being created in that area. Linking would offer significant long-term potential. Representatives of Iarnród Éireann give us a business plan and we say it would cost too much, but it should not always be about money. It should be about linking areas on the island, providing services and creating scope for business along the western route. It frustrates me that the Government looks at everything on the basis of whether money is available. Iarnród Éireann's attitude is that it does not have the money to do it, but we will never get anything done on that basis. People and Governments have to be more imaginative and forward-looking in their thinking.