Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister should wait until he hears me talking about the western rail corridor, phase 2 from Athenry to Tuam and phase 3 to Claremorris. The extension of the western rail corridor could increase passengers and tourism. Why, in the name of God, are we looking for another review of it? There are people in Tuam who are dying to be like people in Waterford. They are dying to put in their greenway, not on the line but adjacent to it. Why can we not carry out the feasibility study to show the beauty and opportunity for rural Ireland in running that from Athenry to Tuam, Miltown and on to Claremorris? I do not want to remove the western rail corridor; I am talking about putting this adjacent to it. The space between the two hedges is 90 ft wide and it could be used in this way. A programme is coming out in a few weeks seeking expressions of interest in greenways. Is the further review on the rail corridor going to delay it? It is very disappointing for the people of Tuam who are very ambitious and who want their greenway. I cannot blame them and in fact I am fully supportive.

CFRAMs is a hot topic for me because I live beside the Shannon on one side and I have the Atlantic in Kinvara on the other side. I was disappointed when I saw the big projects laid out for the future in Limerick, Tralee, Dundalk, Carlingford and Drogheda. There is no mention of the Burren lowlands, which project is at engineering stage. I would have thought the Burren lowlands project would have made it into a plan for the next 22 years as with the gate at Portumna to prevent flooding. It is the only gap all the way along the Shannon and it is where Emerald Star line comes in. I look forward to the gate which is a listed CFRAM project. I do not see it here which is a bit disappointing. On the other hand, I should be reassured that Athlone is being well looked after. They will sort out their flooding in Athlone and send it down to Portumna, thank you very much.

Staying with water, the eastern and midlands water supply project is at consultation stage. What does that mean? For those listening in, it means the pipe will go the 170 km from Parteen on the lower part of the Shannon basin to Dublin.

It is projected we will have a water crisis in Dublin by 2050. If I thought this was to assist in addressing some of the issues regarding flooding, alleviating problems on the west coast or helping people in the east, I would be very supportive of it. However, I do not know if that is the case and we need more communication on that.

In regard to the greenways project strategy, the project is to be delivered in 2018-19 and includes the completion of the Kildare and Meath sections of the greenway, but it also refers to the Galway to Dublin greenway. I found that amazing for the simple reason that there has not been much engagement in consultation. The last time it was decided there would be a greenway going from Dublin to Galway, it hit a road block because the planners drew the map and got the line where it was going to go but they forgot to ask the farmers about the land. If they are talking about having this finished in 2018-19, what is the position in regard to consultation? I am very supportive of it but I would like to have an understanding on it.

It would be remiss of me not to talk about the marketing of the Shannon. The Minister, Deputy Ross, referenced this earlier in regard to the development of the lakelands district, of which I am wholeheartedly supportive given how wonderful the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East have been. However, we are squeezed in the middle, although, to be fair, the Minister, Deputy Naughten, is there himself. It would be wonderful to think this could be done at a fairly lively pace and not be put on the back foot.

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