Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that very positive response. It is indeed heartening to hear that the feasibility study for the development of the twin track option will get under way quite quickly and will be completed by quarter 2 of next year. The land required for the development of that twin track option is already within State ownership under Córas Iompair Éireann, CIÉ. One would hope that the feasibility study would arrive at a conclusion that this would be a very positive development and one that could be easily delivered within a relatively short timeframe and at a reasonable cost.

There is no question but that there is a glaring need for the development of additional commuter rail services. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, has spoken about this on a number of occasions.

There is that need there. I am fully convinced from having spoken to commuters who regularly use that service - I was in Athenry train station this morning heading in the opposite direction - that with the additional frequency one would see a significant amount of additional commuters making the choice to leave their cars at home and hopping on the train from Athenry to Galway, for what is ultimately a very short journey. I hope to make a submission to the development of the feasibility study. One particular matter that needs to be addressed in carrying out of that study is for some sort of shuttle bus service connecting Oranmore, because it is a far quicker and more straightforward connection to make to Parkmore, so that ultimately one can get people from door to door to meet their work needs in the future.

Finally, I raise with the Minister once again the need to expedite publication of the western rail corridor review. It is again critical to this particular issue in that we need ultimately to decide where we are going to make necessary investment in our rail infrastructure in the west. To make those kinds of key decisions we need to have all of the necessary information.

See this speech in context