Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. Let me develop the point he made about high-speed connectivity between cities. I am concerned about the west and the absence of a connection between Galway and Mayo, in addition to the break in the line between Claremorris and Athenry, which means we do not have connectivity between the likes of Westport, Ballina, Galway, Limerick and Cork.

The Minister mentioned the potential of rail freight and alluded to the potential to open up rail freight lines along the western corridor. With the potential for offshore energy generation and all that will play out in that regard, it is important to have the infrastructure in place to exploit the potential to create jobs in the regions. As the Minister knows, the north west is an area in decline and has been designated as such by the EU. Therefore, it is important to create the infrastructure necessary to build our jobs potential for the future.

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