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

The key investment decision, particularly in Donegal and the north-west, is that spur from Portadown via Dungannon, Omagh, Strabane, Letterkenny and Derry. My view is that it should be the first priority because those towns would really benefit. For example, a connection from Letterkenny to Derry would transform the town's relationship to the city. The question then is going to be for the Northern Ireland Administration and the UK Government, given I am not sure we can apply for TEN-T funding for rail infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

If we are looking at all of the different choices, that is going to be one of the key political decisions, and it is a key decision up North because it would not be cheap. Building new rail lines is very expensive. I think it is justified, particularly the connection to Donegal, which we would obviously support. To go back to the Deputy’s earlier question on whether we would invest in Northern infrastructure, the answer is "Yes" - we would do so for that sort of project, but it is not cheap. That is going to be one of the immediate questions - namely, will we get the funding for that line? - because that is the biggest new project that will come out of the strategic rail review, subject to it being agreed. That is an issue for all of our parties.

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