Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Drogheda is the largest town in the country, with an expectation of becoming Ireland’s next city. The design of Government policy has meant it has become a commuter town, with little to no investment in infrastructure to serve it. Almost 20 years ago, a train station for Drogheda's northside was included in the Drogheda northern environs plan. To this day, it remains an objective of the Louth county development plan.

Notwithstanding the already high population figures we have, we are due to see a population boom in the coming years of approximately 20,000 people with the housing along the port access northern cross route. Combined with an IDA business park and new sporting and amenity facilities planned for the area, the train station on the north side of the town is needed more than ever. Will this Government pull the relevant stakeholders, including the NTA, Irish Rail and Louth County Council, together and make this long-standing ambition a reality? No obstacle is insurmountable if the Government wants to deliver it.

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