Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 28 November 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development

Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (Resumed)

11:00 am

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Meade for his presentation. I am from the Cavan-Monaghan constituency and I waited with bated breath during Mr. Meade's opening commentary on the national plan. We heard lots about the south of the country, about the transport hub, and about Waterford, Cork and Limerick. I am delighted for those areas that are so well facilitated with rail transport. Will Mr. Meade elaborate on or disclose some of the plans he has for north of the Galway to Dublin line? I am aware that Sligo was mentioned, and I appreciate how animated and passionate Deputy McLoughlin was about that particular line. I have a keen interest in the lines and existing lines to Navan and on to Kingscourt. We have some very heavy industry in that region such as Kingspan and Gyproc, and other industries, including indigenous industry, in east Cavan and south Monaghan. This potential and capacity to grow could be expanded if open freight rail was facilitated. Perhaps Mr. Meade could talk to us about the plans for a rail line to Navan, it second phase and the progressive reopening of the existing lines to Kingscourt in east Cavan.

The constituency is very much behind the curve in transport infrastructure. We have the M3 that stops abruptly at the Cavan-Meath border and we have no motorway into Cavan town. The N2 has still not been upgraded to motorway status. Even though we have a rail line, we have no functioning rail line. I would make the case that a freight or heavy rail line should be the first phase to Navan and then on to Kingscourt. This would be hugely significant for the area. From travelling to Dublin I can see that unfortunately our motorways are now clogged up again with cars and vans, perhaps with five lads in a van, and we are back to that boom situation again where people may have to travel to work in Dublin. The region is in single digit figures with regard to the number of IDA Ireland visits to the area and we are repeatedly told by IDA Ireland that their lack of visits and ability to bring the big companies to counties such as Cavan and Monaghan is always about the lack of infrastructure. I am sure that the big companies that consider Cavan and Monaghan look for broadband, motorways and rail. Will Mr. Meade talk to us about Iarnród Eireann's future plans for the existing Cavan-Monaghan line to Navan and potentially to Kingscourt?

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