Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have to say I welcome the Tánaiste's statement that capital expenditure is not day-to-day expenditure and that we should use funds available to proceed with that. I also formally welcome the decision to proceed with the reopening of the railway line from Limerick to Foynes. That is very progressive but is it not logical to extend that line directly to the main sources of rail freight along the west coast - because that is the big justification of it - in Ballina and Westport, by reconnecting and reopening the short piece of line between Athenry and Claremorris, which would immediately then connect Ballina, Westport and all the main towns and cities of the west coast to Foynes? This should be done in the interest of regional balance and transport connectivity. Can we expect that the Government will be equally brave with that small section of line, which is even cheaper, and proceed with it immediately?

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