Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. I wish to put a few points to Mr. Meade. As I was in an earlier meeting, I missed a share of what he had to say although I have read his statement. I apologise; as there are two other County Clare representatives present, I may ask repetitive questions. Mr. Meade might bear with me.

I wish to make a few points. First, I have a general comment relating to pricing. I believe pricing of rail tickets continues to be one of the major barriers to people using the service. If I was to take a return train today from Ennis to get to Dáil Éireann via Heuston Station, it would cost me €74 return. It costs me approximately €19 one way on diesel to get there in the car. It is obviously not all in Mr. Meade's gift but I believe the pricing in the future will continue to be an inhibitor to people using rail services and ditching the car to take the train. Perhaps he might comment on that.

At county level, I wish to query and raise a few things with Mr. Meade as concerns, hopes and aspirations. One is the idea of a Shannon rail spur. I am my party's spokesperson on aviation. We see a real bright future for Shannon, hopefully when Covid-19 passes, and it will. It helps to have an expansionary view for Shannon Airport. There has long been a corridor of protected land in south-east Clare, giving a rail spur from that Limerick to Ennis train line right into Shannon Airport. Landowners along the line bemoan the fact that it has not progressed for years and yet the land is frozen. I seek Mr. Meade's views on how he thinks that could progress. Is it necessary? Does Irish Rail see it as priority going forward in the national development plan?

On the issue of the western rail corridor, many of us were devastated to see the Ernst & Young report more or less rubbishing the idea of an extension of rail services along the west of Ireland. I believe there is still some chance to breathe new life into that. There are certainly communities in the west of Ireland but in particular, communities like Crusheen, County Clare, which have long awaited that upward connectivity along the west of Ireland giving them a decent service. Mr. Meade might comment on Crusheen and plans for a station there. It is something for which people there have long campaigned.

The other issue is the Limerick Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy, LSMATS, study looking at the transport needs and functions of Limerick city. I made a submission some months ago suggesting that a park-and-ride facility could be developed in the Parteen-Moyross-Thomondgate area in proximity to Thomond Park because the new northern distributor road will be put in place there. It is proximate to the city and third level campuses and a wonderful road network. Irish Rail's railway line passes through there. I believe it makes sense that there would be some kind of park-and-ride or rail-and-ride network there. I would like to hear Mr. Meade's views on that.

I will make two final points to which Mr. Meade should come back with a contribution. In terms of stations, I believe the Limerick to Ennis rail line has a number of densely populated communities. I am from one such community, namely, Meelick. Cratloe and Sixmilebridge are located above me and Parteen is on the approaches to Limerick city. As recent censuses have identified, they are highly populated and there is potential there for new park-and-rail facilities as things go on and perhaps even new stations.

Does Mr. Meade believe greenways and the rush to develop them are somewhat in contradiction to the priorities of Irish Rail? Finally, there is a well-publicised illegal encampment at the Irish Rail station in Sixmilebridge at present. As the tenants and lessees of the car park, I ask Irish Rail to engage with the authorities in order that this functional car park and the essential facility it provides to that community can be restored in the quickest possible time.