Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I apologise for being late. I wish to discuss the western rail corridor. There have been a number of attacks on this project recently, to the effect that it will be included in the cutbacks. What is the Minister's commitment to the only public transport project in the west? The West on Track community campaign has noted the recent systematic series of attacks on the re-opening of the western rail corridor being conducted through articles in national and local newspapers and appearances by Dublin-based economists on high profile radio programmes and chat shows.

This attempt to obstruct the re-opening of an existing piece of invaluable national infrastructure — the track has been in existence for years — is set against the background of the recent downturn in Government finances. As part of Transport 21, the section of the western rail corridor from Ennis to Claremorris is currently being rebuilt with the first phase, linking Galway and Limerick, the third and fourth largest cities in the State, scheduled to become operational in April next year. The cost, which includes upgrades to the existing inter-city railway between Athenry and Galway, is €106 million. The shorter sections to Tuam and Claremorris will then be completed, as outlined in the programme for Government, at a similar cost. That is far from the cost of €350 million being quoted by the so-called experts from Dublin.

Sustainability must be a key element of transport planning in Ireland to progress public transport projects in line with current environmental thinking on waste and fuel reduction. What has concerned me most is the fact that the Minister's colleague, Deputy Frank Fahey, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transport, was quoted in the local Connacht Tribune newspaper saying that the project could only be completed between Ennis and Athenry. I am here today to get the truth from the Minister. Is the Government committed to the only public transport project in the west? What is the funding commitment to it and what is the time-frame for delivery?

There are many reasons to support this project. It is critical for balanced regional development. There are 14 public transport projects planned for Dublin and the east. I am delighted with those projects and I hope they will be completed but the Minister must not cut the single project in the west of Ireland. The campaign group, West on Track, has done incredible work to prove the viability of this project, particularly with regard to freight transport. The western rail corridor campaigners were accused of imagining the demand for services and their projections for freight traffic were scoffed at by commentators from the east coast. Subsequently, they proved the demand by securing 18 trains per week, which were obliged to travel on an interim basis through the congested greater Dublin area on the route to Waterford port. Cynics ignored this achievement, but Dublin cannot produce even one freight train per week. The success in transferring 16,000 truck movements from road to rail represents 3 million displaced truck miles per annum between counties Mayo and Waterford, a fact that sustains our projections and confounds sceptics. Unlike the DART, the Luas and the Dublin Port tunnel, the freight trains do not receive subsidies. They will be transferred to the western rail corridor when complete to complement revenue from passengers.

In Transport 21, I compliment the Government for having chosen to develop rail transport in a way not seen since the State's foundation. Given that the western rail corridor project comprises a small fraction of the plan, 0.5% of the total budget, why is it being singled out for attack? Balanced regional development and the implementation of the national spatial strategy are the cornerstones of Government policy and the logical basis for the re-opening of the western rail corridor. In my opinion and that of many in the west, the phased re-opening of the corridor makes sense, not just for the west but for Ireland as a whole. It will tip the balance in favour of sound regional development. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.