Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I support the call for a debate on the NRA and road safety. There was a debate on one particular road last week but there are other issues of safety, especially in light of the horrific accident on the M50 at the weekend. The NRA is described as having made a U-turn in today's newspapers, where it is working on safety barriers on the Athlone bypass, but more work is needed.

I have called for a debate on the railways on a number of occasions. Attracting people to use the railways and opening new lines is important, particularly as the western rail corridor report should be available by early 2005. Progress has been made — Iarnród Éireann has announced that four new routes will open from 10 January between Dublin and Galway. The new route that starts in Athlone at 7 a.m. and arrives in Galway at 8.20 a.m. will be of great benefit. Hopefully, other commuter rail lines will be opened when the report by Mr. Pat McCann is published.