Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

What we are doing in phase one of the western rail corridor will allow for a commuter service from Athenry to Galway from next year, once it is completed. The western rail corridor is obviously for inter-city services but it will also try to enhance commuter services, such as the existing Ennis-Limerick commuter service.

Investment in bus priority in Dublin and the regional cities will be increased in 2009. I have asked the Dublin local authorities to give particular attention to the elimination of pinch points on the bus network. There are approximately 43 pinch points on the quality bus corridors in Dublin. These have been mapped at my request and a plan is in place to remove them within a two year period. The one thing on which Deputy Broughan and I agree is that efficient and effective bus services will be needed in the short and medium term as work continues on the metro. I am anxious to secure quality bus corridors that actually work and that make it attractive for people to use bus services.

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