Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the threat of the possible closure of passenger rail lines across the country. The matter may have been raised yesterday. My understanding is that Irish Rail has commissioned a report into the funding of rail services in Ireland. According to a report in yesteday's Irish Independent, in the worst-case scenario, intercity services to Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Kerry, Waterford and Wexford would be axed and services to all other cities and communities on the line, which include large towns like Athlone, Westport, Ballina, Longford, Roscommon and Carlow, would cease.Rail infrastructure is crucial to any modern economy. The Minister should be planning proactively to ensure that there is no threat to vital lines of transport. Decisions on what lines to keep and which ones to close cannot be measured in terms of profitability alone, but must take into account the social and economic spin-off that having a rail service confers on the town. No Irish Rail services make a profit, but that is not unusual as rail services across the world run at a loss and require subvention. I also understand that the scenario outlined is the worst-case one, but I would like the Minister to come to the House to outline what he considers would be the likely scenario and how that would be funded. I want to know that the Minister has a plan and that he can deliver.

In essence, I want the Minister to give assurances to the people of Athlone and the surrounding areas that there will be no risk to their rail service. If looking after services in my area makes me parochial, then so be it. I am guilty. Infrastructure such as rail services cannot be left to chance. We cannot stand back and wait to see what happens. The Minister must deal with this now. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister to come to the House and let us know what case he is making for towns like Athlone so that we know we are as important to the Minister as Dublin and Cork. After all, I have not managed to make Athlone into a city yet but I am working on it.