Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the all-island strategic rail review. It is an important piece of work. Anyone who looks at the old maps of the railway lines compared to today knows there is a significant job of work to fill the gaps. There are lots of gaps, such as the west and the north-west, but I wish to focus on my area. It is important and I welcome that we have DART+ West at M3 Parkway. We need to go further with that, including up the east coast. In principle, it is fundamental that we invest and expand the rail services. It will deliver transformational change.

I wish to specifically address the Navan rail line. The Minister of State will not be surprised. It is a matter I have raised with him on a number of occasions. I attended a meeting with the project leads who are well placed local people. They know the area very well. They have got skin in the game like myself and thousands of others. We want to see that project delivered. I welcome the investment and progress in it thus far. We heard the public consultation on the emerging preferred route is likely by the end of the year or early next year. It will be an important consultation on that. People will have the opportunity to have their say. This will be transformational for the whole county, including Navan, Dunshaughlin, Ratoath and Ashbourne, which have a huge population. We are repeatedly hearing that we need to push, push, push to ensure there is continual funding to bring this beyond the planning stage. There is funding up to 2027 to bring the project to a railway order, but we need continuous funding to see this rail line delivered. That is the number one priority for us. I ask the Minister of State to hear that. We want funding in the national development plan for the uninterrupted progress on the Navan rail line, which would be transformational for the people of County Meath. It is certainly a priority for me, Sinn Féin and my colleague, Deputy Guirke.

In the meantime, bus services need to work for people. I would like to bring the 103 bus service to the Minister of State's attention. Services were cancelled yesterday morning. The 7.40 a.m. bus was cancelled. The 8.30 a.m. bus broke down. This morning, the 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11.50 a.m. services were cancelled. This affected a huge number of people. They are well used services but are being interrupted and cancelled all too often. There are a shortage of drivers, mechanics and roadworthy vehicles. I ask the Minister of State to do everything to ensure Bus Éireann is running a fleet that is fit for purpose. It is incredibly important while we wait for delivery of a 21st century rail service.

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