Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to discuss this issue. It is not her direct area of responsibility but I appreciate her addressing it.

The Limerick to Foynes railway line is a 42 km stretch that was opened in 1858 and closed in 2001. Now it is being reopened, which is leading to the expansion and development of the port and which is welcome. I call for extra funding for national, regional and local roads and the provision of sound barriers to protect the estates of Glencairn, Ballycummin, Slugaire and Springfields.

I note the last Commencement matter was about a bypass. When the Government announced it was looking to bypass Adare, it cited quality of life, less noise and air quality. The lives of residents in the estates I mentioned have deteriorated. It is a 2 km stretch behind the four estates. Iarnród Éireann workers came along. There were trees behind residents' garden walls. To put it in perspective, the rail line is outside their back garden and a motorway beyond that. I stood in one person's house. They have triple glazing but the vibrations in the bedroom were unbelievable. The noise level is terrible.

The Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, came to visit the site with me in the past and acknowledged the noise levels. He could see the issues the residents were having. Workers came along one day and cleared the trees at the back wall which left back gardens exposed. Next thing there were people climbing in over their walls off the rail line, which is not open yet but is in the process of being opened.

Fencing has been put up since but there are no sound barriers. Residents' quality of life has deteriorated. They are trying to get sleep but there is noise from the motorway and workers on the line. What will it be like when the train goes back into operation? We have written to the council and to TII. The Minister of State came and saw it at first hand. There is no joined-up thinking and none of them are saying they can work with each other to provide sound barriers. A solution has to be found because it is not right. Residents bought houses in good faith. There was no rail line opened at the time. They knew the motorway was going outside but the trees were keeping down the noise levels. Things have deteriorated and TII, Iarnród Éireann and the council need to come together to provide quality of life for the residents.