John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

The Minister works in a critical area, in that he gives an enormous amount of direction to local authorities. He also sits at the Cabinet table every week. The Government is spending billions euros of taxpayers' money and words of encouragement from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the Minister of Transport would help the latter to allocate the money needed to complete this project.

When the Minister for Transport launched Transport 21 no one mentioned the north west. A big deal was made of the fact that the line would be fenced off from Claremorris to Collooney. That was the only commitment given by the Government — to provide fencing wire and posts, at an estimated cost of €4 million or €5 million. Does the Government expect people to walk from Claremorris to Collooney? Perhaps it is intended that people would take a scenic walking route across State-owned land from Collooney to Claremorris.

There will be a general election in the not too distant future, as the Minister well knows and this will be a critical election issue. Deputy Kenny has given a clear commitment that when he is sitting on the other side of the House as Taoiseach, there will be no ambiguity at all about this rail line. It will be delivered.

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