Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Leddin for putting forward this question. It is an issue we have both worked on. We have had meetings with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. There really needs to be a coming together. Why not have a joint venture between both Departments? There is an identified solution there. It was originally costing €20 million. Both the Minister and the Minister of State will be aware of the fact that all these prices are escalating. The quicker we do it the better value for money we will get. We are ignoring the problem. I put in a parliamentary question last week to the Department of Transport. It is pointing at the OPW. It is literally pass the parcel. We need a solution to this. One has been identified. Both Departments need to get behind it and fund the option. The Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy has been published.

It hangs on the need to invest in rail. A rail spur to Shannon Airport is identified in that and various rail stations have been identified. This is a key link between Ennis, Limerick and Galway so the matter needs to be rectified. There is a solution and we need both Departments to fix it.

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