Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Aughey to the meeting and thank him for taking the time to be here. This project is hugely exciting. It has the potential to bring enormous benefits to the north west. Mr. Aughey outlined in great detail the historical lack of investment in the north west. As someone who comes from outside Letterkenny and now lives in Monaghan, I have a fair idea of that isolation. The three maps in Mr. Aughey's presentation - rail as it was once upon time, rail as it is now and the motorway network - illustrate in one clear graphic the deficit of infrastructure that exists. Mr. Aughey spoke about the benefits from reduced carbon emissions to the potential development not just of the north west but the heart of mid-Ulster, which has also suffered from lack of investment. All those areas surrounding the route of the railway have serious potential growth.

Mr. Aughey mentioned discussions between Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council. Has he had other discussions with authorities in Northern Ireland, London and Dublin? What have these discussions led to? I understand that there may be private sector investment involved in the project. Could Mr. Aughey outline what would be the input of the private sector into this project? Would there be adequate bums on seats, if I can use that expression, to justify the investment that would be needed in this project? I look forward to his responses.