Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)

According to the most recent census, Meath had a population of 230,000 in 2022. No doubt the figure is more than that now. Only yesterday, I left my house in County Meath at 7 a.m. and it took two hours to get here - a 27 km journey. This morning, I left at 8 a.m. and I got here at 9.55 a.m. I cannot get those four hours back. We have an excellent bus service, the NX. When I say "excellent", it is excellent on weekends or at off-peak hours. Try getting it at peak times and there is a high chance it will drive straight past you. The people of Meath spend more time commuting to work than those of any other county in the whole of Ireland. We are desperate for the rail line in Navan. When the public consultation was released on this two years ago, 4,000 people responded, such was the want from our county. This project was promised 20 years ago and many people bought their houses in Navan in good faith expecting the train line, but nothing materialised.

The Minister of State mentioned in his opening statement that many of the train tracks are there since the 1800s. We had a train line in Navan from the 1850s. Some 175 years later, we learn that we are going to get the train. Consultants have been appointed and we are on our way. I was informed at a meeting with Iarnród Éireann that a route will be identified by the end of this year and decided upon by next year, with public consultation as part of the process. However, it is very tough waiting all the time for this and to hear people in Navan tell me they will not be around to see it happening. I want to assure the people of Navan and County Meath that they will be around to see it happening. When the Minister of State is looking at where he will spend his money under the NDP, I would urge him to put what he can for the rail line to come quickly to Navan in County Meath.