Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. There is a great opportunity here and we have made submissions to the overall rail review. The Joint Committee on Transport and Communications is looking at various aspects of this. I will mention two of these. The Minister has already discussed the western rail corridor, WRC, and some of the opportunity this presents. This is an ambition that needs to realised.

There is the focus on the Navan rail line extension, which is very significant and has the potential to be the first step in a series of steps. Communities further up the line would also like to see this development.

I will also make the point to the Minister that it is important that we act early, including on the planning process, as there are prominent figures in the region who are receiving national media attention already in their opposition to that project and how they intend to frustrate it and that needs to be overcome.

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