Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

Investment in rail infrastructure in the north west is crucial if we are in any way serious about balanced regional development. Donegal is one of the few counties on the island of Ireland that does not have a rail network. That is simply unacceptable. The rail review has proposed linking Derry and Letterkenny, which is crucial for the north-west city region, as well as connectivity with Belfast and a spur to Dublin.

I would love to see a direct line from the capital city, Dublin, to the fourth largest city on the island, namely, Derry. It is my ambition to achieve that. It is appalling and shows the effects of partition that, in this day and age we simply do not have a connection between those two cities. What we deserve is a fully costed commitment from the Government on a Letterkenny to Derry line, the other potentials that exist, how we deliver the project, and the timeframe for it. We must make sure that Donegal is no longer a forgotten county. It is not acceptable anymore, in particular when we talk about all the challenges, including regional development and climate change. Donegal has simply been forgotten in regard to rail and that cannot continue any longer. I seek commitments from the Government to push this forward.

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