Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, I spoke about a report highlighting stark inequality in respect of broadband in rural areas. Today, we see a report indicating that Irish Rail is facing insolvency and rural routes may be cut if Iarnród Éireann does not receive an additional €103 million per annum over the next five years. This additional funding would only allow the company to remain solvent and the figure does not take account of the investment needed to address the neglect and failure of successive Governments in respect of our rail links.

I remember sitting in an economics lecture some years ago when we discussed European investment in various infrastructure projects and examples were cited of such investment in rural and urban areas. In the case of Dublin, the example given was the port tunnel, whereas the example for rural areas was the Youthreach programme in Kiltimagh, County Mayo. I am not minimising the great work done by the Youthreach programme but reminding Senators of the inequality in investment in the west and rural areas as opposed to urban areas, particularly Dublin.

The excuse used to close railway lines outside Dublin will be that they are underused. How can we expect to increase passenger numbers when the rail links are not tailored to meet the needs of local populations, including the need to ensure connectivity between bus and train timetables? A fully integrated transport system would result in a significant increase in the numbers using public transport overnight.

The report also suggests that the Ennis to Athenry line, which was opened in 2010, could be a target for closure. This section of the western rail corridor carried 102,000 passengers in 2015, more than double the number carried in 2014 and far in excess of Iarnród Éireann's forecast in the original business case for reopening the Galway to Limerick passenger train service.

The programme for Government provides for an independent costing and review of phase 2 of the western rail corridor between Athenry and Claremorris for passenger and freight use, and explicitly states that no measures will be taken to prevent the future reactivation of the corridor for rail use, as set out in the McCann report. The millions of euro spent on advertising the Wild Atlantic Way must be backed up by substantial investment in infrastructure, including rail links.

I look forward to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport coming to the House to discuss how he intends to fulfil the commitments made in the programme for Government and support infrastructure, including rail infrastructure, in rural areas.