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

The Minister is hearing this from all quarters. The opportunity is available. If one maps our rail infrastructure and our forced car dependency, there has to be very significant development if we are to achieve a modal shift. Much of that will be to an improved public bus network, but rail has a very important role to play. I am speaking about Navan but also about the west and north west. Communities are chomping at the bit for this. They have their hands up and they want to see this delivered. I believe that if it was built, it would be used very extensively. I raised the question of funding with the Minister during climate questions last week. That is going to be a continuing challenge, not just at the Irish level but also at European level. We need to look at the window that is closing in the climate context.

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