Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I thank Deputies Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin for bringing forward the motion.

I will focus my comments on an aspect the motion pays attention to, namely the "vitally important public transport projects such as ... Dublin-Navan railway line". The Minister will be well aware of my continued references to this vitally important infrastructure. Two weeks ago, I stood on the platform in Navan central where thousands of people should be gathering each morning to allow them to avail of a viable public transport facility between Navan and Dublin. In a town of 40,000 people, I stood there on an empty platform with the pigeons. Three years ago, the Minister promised to come down and stand with me and at least examine the viability of that project. I took him at his word. I am still waiting for him - an hour down the road - to come down and engage with me on that project.

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I met the Irish Rail infrastructure team some weeks ago and was glad to do so. The same very professional people were in situten years ago. They informed me that they are in the business of building railway lines and want to see those kinds of projects happen with the Government's help. I ask the Minister, on behalf of the people of Navan, Kilmessan, Dunshaughlin and the wider area, to engage with me in respect of that crucial piece of infrastructure.

The Fianna Fáil plan put forward by Deputy Troy prioritises that Dublin-Navan railway line as a crucial piece of infrastructure from an economic as well as a transport point of view. There are thousands of people who depend on that for easy access to the city. There used to be an advertisement on radio which boasted that Navan was an hour from Dublin. One would be lucky to get from Navan to Dunshaughlin in that time now. That is soul destroying for the people and families involved. I am talking about a county that is home to 200,000 people who need to access the city for jobs. The Fianna Fáil development plan will be published in September and the development of that railway line will be a crucial part of it.

I do not doubt the Minister's sincerity or commitment to the availability of good public transport because I know he believes in that. I ask him for action. He often wrote eloquently in the Sunday Independent on issues pertaining to Bus Éireann, Irish Rail and many other things. I worked for the Independent Group for over a decade and I know the power of words. However, words are one thing; the Minister needs to match his words with action. I ask that he engage with Members from counties Westmeath, Cavan and Cork and, in particular, the people of Navan and Meath. Aside from the motion, I ask that he does me the decency of honouring the commitment he gave me in autumn 2016 and let us deliver that crucial piece of infrastructure for the people of Navan and Meath.

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