John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the outcome of the rail review study. I particularly welcome the outcome as it pertains to the recommendations it makes for my own constituency and for the west in general, especially the doubling of the rail track to Athenry and the proposed reopening of the western rail corridor. I know the Minister is familiar with this. However, I go back to the publication of the national planning framework about a month or six weeks ago. In the national planning framework for each of the regional cities of Cork, Limerick and Waterford and Galway, a number of key enablers were outlined as to how these cities can be developed and what infrastructural projects will be required for these cities to develop. For Limerick, Cork and Waterford, the key enablers all included some reference to rail transport or rail projects. However, there was no reference in the national planning framework to reopening the western rail corridor or to doubling the rail track between Galway and Athenry as part of the key enablers for Galway city. That was regrettable given the strong sense that came from this review of the all-island strategic rail review to include both projects into the future. Other Deputies mentioned their own constituencies but when Galway and Cork are compared, Cork has a double track to Mallow and a double track to Cobh. In Limerick work has started on progressing the double track between Limerick and Limerick Junction. Yet, I do not see the same intent arising from this report.

I put down a number of parliamentary questions as to how we are going to move from this report towards the implementation of both of those objectives in terms of doubling the track to Athenry and reopening the western rail corridor and I am finding it difficult to see real intent and to be able to say purposely and specifically that this project is going to progress. As I said at the time of the publication of the national rail review, I hope the national development plan reviews it in terms of rail infrastructure for Galway and clearly highlights that both the doubling of the track to Athenry and the western rail corridor are part of the national development plan.

It was mentioned earlier in the Dáil today and it is worth reminding ourselves of the recent cost of congestion report in Galway city which showed that the cost of congestion in Galway city is going to double between now and 2030 and is going to reach a level of €107 million. Clearly, that report is saying we need to do more in terms of infrastructural development to tackle congestion in Galway city. The two moves included in this report will go some way towards reducing the congestion in Galway city and reducing the cost associated with that.

There are just one or two operational matters regarding rail services in the city I want to draw people's attention to as well. There is a very positive project at the moment in terms of the redevelopment of Ceannt Station. However, Ceannt Station will now have five platforms, yet we will only have a single track into the station. It is going to be very difficult to make the most of the redevelopment of Ceannt Station without doubling the rail track to Athenry. That should be borne in mind.

I recognise and welcome that there is the project to develop a second platform in Oranmore and a passing loop. It is a start but I would like to see greater intent as to how we are going to progress the recommendations in this study as they relate to Galway and rail infrastructure in Galway.

One other operational matter I will mention is that I understand that Galway County Council is soon to progress the enhancement of the carpark at the Oranmore railway station which will make it more amenable for people who want to use the station there to park and ride between Oranmore and Galway city.

I ask Irish Rail to look specifically at the car park in Athenry and to do something similar there. It should be opened up for the public to use. We should reduce the cost of using it and increase the flow of people using rail services from Athenry in Galway.

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