Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the commitment of the Minister. I am particularly conscious that he is the Minister who has responsibility for this important area. We all await the outcome of the all-island strategic review. There are many views on how we connect the north west. That is probably a discussion for another day, but it is the principle we have to have first.

I remember meeting the European Commissioner for Transport about 15 years ago, long before I was elected to Dáil Éireann. I showed him a map of Ireland. He pointed to the north west on the map and asked whether it was a barren area because there were no rail lines or motorways. Unfortunately, there is still no motorway or dual carriageway.

Obviously, there are different views on how to connect the region. The Navan rail line could be connected to Derry with a spur to Letterkenny. The key point is that the north west has to be connected. It is not just about rail infrastructure; it is also about prosperity. This year, we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. We will talk about a quarter of a century of peace. However, there was also a commitment on prosperity. Donegal, the north west and Strabane comprise one of the most deprived areas on the island of Ireland. This infrastructure can change things. It will be a social good and can also do good in terms of the environment while, crucially, lifting prosperity for people living in the region.

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