Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We all look forward to the publication of the review and to advancements being made in respect of all the issues around rail on the island. It is vital infrastructure that we need to see developed. We all recognise that, in the context of climate change, rail is one of the key pieces of infrastructure which will put us in a safe place in regard to meeting our commitments. However, we still have issues in certain areas where we are not seeing it advanced at the speed we need to see in respect of this, and the western rail corridor is one of those issues.

We see the western Atlantic economic corridor down the whole western coast as a counterbalance. I often say that we need to relieve Dublin and revive the rest. We certainly see in this capital city that we are bringing in measures to deal with congestion, housing problems and all the various other problems we have, yet in other parts of the country, particularly the west, we have the least development and the most opportunity. That is why the Government needs to lead that out by providing the key infrastructure which will make that economic rebalance happen, and the western rail corridor is one of those key pieces of infrastructure. That is why it is short-sighted of the Government to look to go only from Athenry to Claremorris. We should go all the way to Sligo with the western rail corridor and ensure that happens with haste.

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