Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Limerick to Foynes railway line is such an exciting project and, as I said, is ostensibly for freight but in upgrading the line, it is going to produce opportunities for passenger services in the future. I know that Irish Rail would be ambitious in that regard. It is up to us as politicians to persuade our colleagues and the various State agencies involved in that decision-making.

We are very proud in Limerick to be hosting the Ryder Cup in 2027. This is such a fantastic opportunity to develop passenger services because more than 100,000 people are going to be coming in and out of Adare every day. The best way to get them in and out of Adare is by rail and I know Mr. Meade would be supportive of that ambition. I certainly wish to see that happen and it would be remiss if heaven and earth is not moved to make that happen in time for the event. There should be passenger services to Raheen, Patrickswell, Adare, Askeaton and Foynes built on top of this freight project in the years ahead.

At Dooradoyle and Raheen, people are broadly positive about the project. There are concerns about construction works, noise mitigation, drainage issues and so on. I ask Mr. Meade that his team liaise closely with those people and residents on the ground there and-----