Mr. Colmán Ó Raghallaigh:

I will just clarify one thing. Reference was made to the situation between Mullingar and Athlone. Unfortunately, in that situation, the rail track was left in place but the greenway was built into the side of the alignment. The actual greenway is right beside the rail track so the rail track is useless. A train could not run on that because the greenway is built into the side of it. What should have been done, and there was plenty of room to do it, was build the greenway several metres to one side of the track and put a fence there. That way, the rail track could be used if and when Iarnród Éireann wanted it. I believe that is a strategic route that should be brought back into use in time. If there is goodwill and if county councils are prepared to be imaginative, greenways can be provided without any difficulty. However, giving up the rail track runs the risk that you will not get it back, irrespective of what is signed with Iarnród Éireann or anyone else.