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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Navan rail line review

Summary

Deputies Cassells and Byrne pressed for progress on a review of the Navan-Dublin rail line, arguing public transport investment is needed to reduce congestion and support Meath. The Minister said he could not answer in detail but would alert the responsible Minister to their concerns.

Under the Minister's climate action plan, we will see the possible banning of cars from city and town centres but to achieve that a viable public transport system will be needed, yet only 20% of the transport budget goes on public transport and only 2.9% of journeys in Ireland are made by rail. The people of Navan would like to have a rail line, which would reduce car congestion on a road that the Minister knows well, given that he comes from Dunboyne. As a fellow Meath man, will he use his influence to bring about the possibility of bringing the Government review of the Navan rail line forward from 2021 because the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has shown no interest in the project?

Comment on this
Pat the Cope Gallagher An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Fianna Fáil

Deputy Thomas Byrne has a question on the same issue.

Comment on this

On the same issue, I completely agree with my colleague, Deputy Cassells, on the Dublin-Navan rail line. Yesterday, Fine Gael published a list of projects throughout the country for which it is claiming credit. None of those is in Meath. The Navan-Dublin rail line is not on that list. Meath is not mentioned at all on Fine Gael's list and the people of Meath want to know why that is the case.

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Pat the Cope Gallagher An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Fianna Fáil

Is the Minister in a position to answer on that?

Comment on this

I am not in a position to answer. I can understand the Deputies' concerns for the royal county. There is significant investment in the national development plan but I will alert the Minister responsible to the Deputies' concerns.

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