Section 39 pay and Ennis line
Senator Conway backed section 39 workers and then urged funding to fix repeated flooding closures on the Ennis–Limerick rail line at Ballycar. The Chair reminded him he was straying into two items, but he continued with the rail case.
I too would like to support the section 39 workers. We all know the phenomenal work that is done by many of these workers.
It is a great pity to see that they are out on dispute. I sincerely hope this will be resolved as soon as possible.
I wish to raise just one more issue quickly. I call on the Minister for Transport to provide funding to Irish Rail to upgrade the Ennis–Limerick railway line, particularly at Ballycar.
Comment on this
Year in, year out, the line has been closed at certain times of the year due to flooding, and people have ended up getting a bus from Ennis to Limerick and back. People buy a train ticket expecting to get a train. It is a wonderful service. For a few million euro, this problem could be resolved forever and a day. It has gone on long enough. The railway line from Limerick to Galway, via Ennis, is one of the fastest-growing lines in the country and therefore the investment is needed and should be made.