Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I appreciate his statement on broadening the lens regarding the importance of the western rail corridor. I understand the stumbling blocks regarding the publication of the all-Ireland strategic rail review and the pushing ahead of a draft review that needs to set out what is contained within it. However, a lot of work is taking place in Mayo. A lot of the multinationals, which are key employers throughout the county, are looking at their own corporate responsibility objectives regarding sustainable freight travel. A network is being established around how they can move trucks from road to rail. This will be an important factor for the Minister and his officials to evaluate in terms of how we reopen the western rail corridor.

Given the success of the train service between Limerick and Ennis, which has surpassed all expectations, work on obtaining funding and getting the next phase from Claremorris to Athenry going will be a key component of our approach. As the Minister said, we can connect Westport, Castlebar and Ballina to Claremorris, which opens up a significant opportunity and meets the strategic objectives of connecting Ballina to the ports of Waterford and Foynes at the same time, which is really important. There is strong cross-party support across the western region for the restoration of this key piece of infrastructure, which has lain idle for far too long. We cannot continue to exist on fine words. We need to see delivery. We have moved ahead with the Foynes project, which is under way. The Galway-Mayo link is critical to that and I appeal to the Minister to see that work can commence on clearing the line by September.

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