Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and the Department for all the incredible work carried out, even in the short time the current Government has been in office, to improve connectivity, reduce transport and commuting costs, improve EV charging, increase train and bus options, and, especially in my home town of Drogheda, effectively cutting the cost of a ticket to Dublin by half. We know the DART service is well on target to extend to the town.

I speak once again, as I did in my first weeks as a Senator in February, about something very real and urgent to the people of Drogheda. Anybody who knows me knows I am like dog with a bone when it comes to issues close to my heart, and I will not let this one go. I raise again the need for a second railway station on the north side of the town and the immediate start of phase 2 of the port access northern cross route.

Let us start with the railway station. As I have mentioned before, Drogheda is the biggest town in Ireland and growing fast, especially on the north side, with an estimated 7,500 houses on the way and planned. However, we still have only railway station, located on the south side in a densely populated area. It is already hugely over-capacity, with a serious shortage of parking spaces. We have thousands of commuters heading into Dublin and Belfast every morning, many of them forced to drive across town or into the centre of town to try to catch their train. It is causing traffic chaos and gridlock. It is bad for the environment and it is making daily life hard for families. A second railway station on the north side, close to phase 2 of the port access road, would ease pressure, cut commuting times and encourage people to leave the car at home, which is what we are aiming for. It is not just a convenience; it makes real common sense.

Phase 2 is the port access northern cross route, or the PANCR road. Phase 1 was delivered. We were delighted to welcome the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, to cut the ribbon on that. It has already made a massive difference. However, without phase 2, the job is only half done. HGVs are still going through residential areas. Our town centre is clogged up. Housing and other developments are being held up. We have done the planning and the route is mapped out. It was scheduled to begin work in January of this year, so now we really need to see shovels on the ground. Drogheda is ideally placed to be almost a regional hub. The road is vital for opening up land for housing, as otherwise new developments will be landlocked, for supporting the port and for keeping Drogheda moving. It is about future-proofing the town, not just five years from now but right now.

I ask the Minister of State and all involved to make these two projects, a second train station and phase 2 of the PANCR, a priority. I understand they need to be included in the national development plan. They need to be seriously considered. Drogheda is not a little town on the outskirts of Dublin anymore. It is a fledgling city right at the heart of this region and a vital part of the M1 corridor. It deserves to have the infrastructure to match. I ask that it is given consideration and for an update on what is happening with the second phase of the port access route.