Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Meade. I am a Deputy for the constituency of Leitrim-Sligo and welcomed the announcement that more services were being added between Dublin and Sligo route from 10 December. The biggest issue I can see is with line infrastructure. What investment is to be made in Sligo in the coming years? One of my biggest complaints is the lack of carriages. It is a major issue. There is a lack of carriages every weekend and on most days of the week. The condition of some carriages is poor and would not be acceptable on the Dublin-Cork or Dublin-Belfast routes. The Sligo-Dublin service is the poor relation, which I do not think is acceptable. Mr. Meade has said the national development plan is ahead of schedule. Given the amount of money that has been invested in Iarnród Éireann, it is vitally important that serious consideration be given to the area I represent and the commuters who use the line. They are entitled to a rail service which is as good as that provided in any other part of the country, but they are not receiving it. Some commuters have to stand between Dublin and Carrick-on-Shannon, Longford and sometimes all the way to Sligo. The same is true in the opposite direction, which is not acceptable or good enough in this day and age. I am not a member of the committee, but I was told that Mr. Meade would be appearing before it this morning. I have read his report. It is vitally important that he realise he has an obligation and a responsibility to the people who use the train service on the railway line between Sligo and Dublin, including on a daily basis. The number of services on the line has increased, but we are receiving a second rate service, which is not acceptable. It takes three hours to travel from Sligo to Dublin. Is there any plan for investment? Mr. Meade has spoken about upgrading railway lines and increasing the speeds achievable in other areas, which would reduce journey times. Are there plans to do so at our end of the country? The carriages used on the line have been called "reject carriages". I have been a public representative for the area for many years, with Deputy Martin Kenny and other Members of the Oireachtas who are very annoyed, as are local councillors. The problem has been highlighted on numerous occasions and Mr. Meade and his officials have been made aware of it. Will he confirm that he will look at the issue very seriously, upgrade services and invest money in the line? We are entitled to it. People constantly say to me it would not be tolerated on the Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Belfast lines, or on any other line in the country for that matter. We are the poor relations. Mr. Meade must take responsibility. He should provide us with an update and tell us what he proposes to do in the next few years about the issue.