Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. I appreciate that. Like him, I have spent a lot of time in Maynooth over the years as a student and educator. What emphasises the need for Kilcock and south Kildare is that sometimes it is quicker to get from Dublin city to Maynooth than from Kilcock to Maynooth. That is because the public transport might let you down or is not interlinked. That really emphasises the need for this service to be rolled out. I appreciate it is now included in that strategy, but the concern for many in Kilcock and Sallins is that the timeframe for that strategy is potentially 20 years away. We need it urgently. We need it much sooner than that. If there are ways in which we can incorporate those towns into the existing works, it would be appreciated, and there is an evidence base for that. I would love to engage further with the officials in the Department and I appreciate the Minister of State for his time and effort.

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