Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)

We accept the line must be built in a phased way. Money could at least be provided and we should encourage completion of the study with regard to extending the link the rest of the way to Navan. It will make the entire line more economically viable. The least we could do is to agree to study the matter and have it ready, so that it can be built when funding becomes available. We do not expect it tomorrow. The feasibility study could be completed. It proved successful with regard to the Cork-Midleton line. Such studies are worth doing. It is not fair to banish the chance of a railway line to Navan without proper homework to prove the case one way or another. That is what happened with the rail review of 2003. It was put to one side on the basis of false figures.

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