Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for setting out the overall constraints from a policy perspective. We need to look at this again. I ask that consideration be given to the following. While the criteria refer to a population of 10,000, there are 6,000 people living in close proximity. There was a station in the area previously. If I was arguing for a brand-new station where no infrastructure ever existed, I would be more inclined to accept the response. Where a station is in place, the principle has been accepted and access is available, with lands purchased by the local authority, the proposal makes sense.

I suggest it will not be long before there is a population of 10,000. Allowing only for organic growth, it might take a long time to get to a population of 10,000 but if a railway station were opened, it would take the burden and pressure off Gort and Ennis and put Crusheen village in a much stronger position to take pressure off schools in other areas. The proposal makes sense. The criteria need to be slightly different and consider the existence of a station previously. The population criteria need to be changed also because that would be a way to generate more growth. We have seen this with water and sewerage. There are lots of places where the sewerage system was adequate and the question was asked as to why would we invest more when people will not come. When infrastructure is in put in place, people come and it takes the burden off other locations.

I have engaged with Iarnród Éireann and spoken to the Minister of State, Deputy Lawless. I will continue to do that. I do not know which of us will be around here after the next election but I assure the House that if I am here in any guise in form, I will do my damnedest to get back to where we were when the late John Lynch assigned moneys to open the station in Crusheen. In honour of his life and passing, in addition to all those great people in Crusheen who have done so much to keep this issue to the fore, I want to ensure we do our bit here too.