Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

Spatial development in this country is an absolute disaster. Ireland is a lopsided economy at present. Dublin is overheating. The Dublin commuter belt goes into Ulster, Connacht and Munster. Much of regional Ireland is being emptied of its young people. We have a situation where the average age in Baldoyle is 33 and the average age in Killarney is 45. Young people are being forced into this commuter belt. These young people are the collateral damage of this. Their lives and existence at present are a catastrophe. I know people from out as far as Castlepollard and Clonmel who stay in Dublin during the week because getting in and out of it is so difficult. People bought houses in County Meath 20 years ago on the promise there would be a rail line in 2010. We were promised it in 2015. My worry is that unless a solid gold commitment is made by the Minister to deliver this it will remain in feasibility studies forever.

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