Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State and wish him well in his new role. He is off to a good start.

It is encouraging to note that rural transport is given particular significance in the programme for Government. I served on the board of Galway Rural Development which operates a number of rural transport schemes throughout south-east and north Galway. Those schemes are particularly useful and valuable to communities. They operate in the peripheral parts of the county and are of particular benefit and use to the elderly given that they operate mainly on Fridays. I would be concerned if any attempt were made to curtail any of these schemes.

I wish to raise with the Minister of State the matter of a train service in another rural community. The Minister of State may have had some discussions on this matter with representatives of the people of Woodlawn. While the westbound service in the morning is good, the eastbound service has been seriously eroded during the years. Currently, the only eastbound train servicing Woodlawn on weekdays is at 5.35 a.m. There is then a ten hour gap before the next train. This situation is ludicrous as all Galway-Dublin trains have to pass through Woodlawn. While many of the trains actually stop at Woodlawn and wait for the westbound train to pass, frustratingly, they cannot accommodate passengers at Woodlawn.

Iarnród Éireann has referred to the fact that Woodlawn is a small rural community, but it has ignored the fact that it services a large hinterland. The infrastructure is in place and there is an opportunity to provide a better service. I am aware issues such as scheduling are involved. A couple of years ago a significant investment was made at the railway station in Ballinasloe, at which point it was intended the trains would cross. However, for some reason that particular facility is not operational and the trains are crossing at Woodlawn, which has only one platform and is where the difficulty arises. As we are discussing rural transport, I ask that the Minister of State take this issue on board and have further discussions in that regard with Iarnród Éireann. It is hoped that when the next round of timetabling takes place, it would be possible to schedule an extra stop at Woodlawn. Most people who board the train at Woodlawn would be going to Dublin for hospital appointments, and leaving at 5.35 a.m. is too early. We need a service somewhere between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.

I appreciate the opportunity to raise that issue with the Minister of State. I support the retention and development of rural transport services generally.