Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being late but I had to attend another meeting. On what Deputy Ó Cuív said in respect of the rail review, it is important that all of the stakeholders are consulted. There are numerous stakeholders one might not think of who need to be consulted on this, including the Galway Port Authority and the Foynes Port Authority. The western rail corridor needs to be looked at in light of the Brexit situation. That needs to be factored in. The working group that the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, is chairing on the Atlantic economic corridor also needs to be consulted. The terms of reference are important.

We must ensure that all of these people are consulted. Local authorities as well as the WDC and the western regional authorities all have to be consulted. It is bigger than just a railway link or putting a train on a track from Athenry to Claremorris. We have to look at the bigger picture. I hope that the Department of Rural and Community Development will have a major input into looking at and consulting on the whole process. We must look at the positive impacts it could have not just to the west of Ireland but for this whole Atlantic economic corridor that we are trying to create. At this stage, because the review will be starting soon, it is important that there is engagement between the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Rural and Community Development.

It would be remiss of me not to say something about the local improvement schemes, LIS. It was a fundamental positive for the Department of Rural Development. I congratulate it. There is a stack of roads that have to be done in every county. They will not all be done in one year. The Minister, Deputy Ring, mentioned the number of roads done so far. That is so many gone off a list that was stagnant since 2010. People might not realise what it means for rural people and the connectivity it creates. We have to acknowledge that. It would be brilliant if we could get the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to do matching funds. We should engage with it on that.