Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. This is an issue that many people have brought to my attention and I see it myself. There are times that we want more trains from Sligo going through Ballymote, Collooney, Boyle, Carrick-on-Shannon, Dromod and Longford. If I want to get from Dublin to Longford, that is fine, but we want to get to the north west.

I thank the Minister of State for the work that has been done. The reduction in fares makes it much more affordable and encourages more people to use the line. As she said, 1.2 million will be using the line. However, there are constraints on the expansion of the line. As she said, it is a single line between Maynooth and Sligo and additional service must cross a passing point between two and three times. Hopefully there is work done to look at the Sligo line and it will get the attention it deserves, because we do not have the transport infrastructure.

Much good work is being done. In respect of Local Link, one can see the number of buses going between Sligo, Coolaney, Ballymote, Boyle, Manorhamilton and Ballyshannon is making a difference. It is money well spent. Many people who were not used to using public transport are now beginning to use it. That takes many more people out of their cars and it is providing a service, but we need to do much more.

I wish to try to reduce the times between Sligo and Dublin from a little over three hours. As I said, we are the new Galway of the west and we want to be given the same treatment. We want to get to Dublin as quickly as possible. However, more importantly, we want people to come from Dublin to Sligo as quickly as possible to see all of the great things on offer there. I know the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is from Galway and she would not mind us getting the same parity of esteem as that wonderful city of hers.

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