Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy. One of the reasons investments like that make sense is that we need to adhere to the national planning framework. There is excess development on the east coast compared in particular with Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick. In each of those cities, in the near future, I expect us to make announcements similar to that which was made in Moyross earlier this week. We need to make similar investments in our rail network, especially in our cities. That is why we invested in Cork metropolitan rail as one of the main projects in our European resilience funding applications. I see the twin-tracking from Athenry to Ceannt Station in Galway in a similar light and, indeed, Waterford station moving along the River Suir.

Those sorts of investments will be considered within the national all-island rail review. That is imminent and I expect it will be complete within weeks or two or three months, at the latest. That might help make the case for the investment decision.

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