Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I asked about the level of consultation with the people who are affected, not just political representatives but also those on the ground. I also asked if our guests would be conducting town hall meetings at which people can engage and have their concerns addressed. I am disappointed to hear that our guests have not been engaging with the local authorities on route selection. Mr. Creegan said there is limited engagement and that it would be accelerated. I would have thought that the bodies that are responsible for future development and population growth would have been the first to talk to before coming out with a plan in terms of where there is a need to increase public transport.

There are people who will inevitably lose some land. That has to be acknowledged and, unfortunately, it has to happen in some cases in order for this to work. In the context of people who do not co-operate, will our guests be going down the compulsory purchase order, CPO, route? In terms of the compensation people can expect, is the figure that has been bandied about in the media fair and accurate or will the actual figure be based on property values in particular locations?