Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

Despite many cash injections, Iarnród Éireann has unsuitable and unsafe passenger trains on its mainline network, especially on the Sligo and Westport lines. Locomotives break down regularly and people living in Connacht expect this as the norm. Passengers are considered second-class citizens.

Recently a train on the Sligo-Dublin line was late and no apology was given. Carriages used on the line are unsafe and have no heating, despite the vast amounts of money allocated to Iarnród Éireann, of which we have waited four to five years to see any sign. The fact that the company undertook to investigate an incident on the Dublin-Cork line is an example of how it places greater emphasis on that line than on those to the west.