Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My issue relates to page 50 of the programme for Government, which reads, "We recognise the value and benefit of rural transport to many communities, in particular for older people vulnerable to social isolation". Yesterday, my local newspaper, The Sligo Champion, which has existed for more than 200 years, ran two banner headlines. One read: "End of the line for Sligo Rail?". The other stated that the Sligo-Dublin rail service was under threat. When such a newspaper runs headlines like these, many people and businesses grow concerned, so much so that six year old Darragh Walsh from Sligo wrote to Irish Rail after reading about the uncertainty over the route and asked it not to close. He wrote, "Please don't because my Mum wants to get to hospital to see the doctor".

Apparently, a National Transport Authority survey suggested that cutting the Dublin-Sligo line was one of the drastic measures that could be considered in order to save money. It is the third busiest line in the country. If the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport decides to remove the route, he will bring this House down around his ears.

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