James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have said time and gain that it does not make economic sense to scale back road improvement programmes because jobs are created through getting those major infrastructural projects off the ground. A public transport network was closed down in Longford-Westmeath, namely, the rail link between Athlone and Mullingar. This serves two gateway towns and is a very important piece of infrastructure. The road linking those two towns is one of the worst in Europe. It takes well over an hour and a half to commute by road. I ask the Minister and Minister of State to consider opening the rail link between Mullingar and Athlone. Doing so would make sound economic sense.

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