Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise with the Tánaiste the issue of the western rail corridor and the campaign to get it opened from Athenry to Claremorris. I understand that EY-DKM have been appointed as consultants for the Government to carry out a financial and economic appraisal of the proposed track extension. Will the Tánaiste outline to the House when the public consultation phase of that will open? Will he confirm that the Government will give this due consideration? It is a reasonable request that a commuter service for workers between Mayo and Galway be put in place. A considerable number of people travel from County Mayo to Galway. Galway has a significant traffic problem that will not be resolved in the near future. I ask that the Government take this on board and open up the public consultation as quickly as possible.

I suggested it might take up to 12 months to complete the report. I ask the Government to try to reduce that time as 12 months seems to be an unnecessarily long time to prepare a report.

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