Galway East TD Urges Priority Funding for Western Rail Corridor

A Galway East TD is advocating for funding to be prioritized for the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor. Louis O’Hara has called on the Minister for Transport to include this project in the upcoming sectoral spending plan under the National Development Plan (NDP). His request follows comments made by Iarnród Éireann CEO, Mary Considine, during a recent Oireachtas Transport Committee hearing.

During the hearing, Considine indicated that the first phase of the Western Rail Corridor, which connects Athenry to Claremorris, could be completed within three years once funding is secured. She acknowledged that while the second phase, extending from Claremorris to Collooney, is not part of the current rail review, she remains hopeful it will be included in future assessments.

“There isn’t a specific pot of funding allocated to this project at the moment so that is a constraint on the work,” Considine stated. She added, “If there was no constraint on funding, this project could probably be delivered in three years or by the end of this decade, with construction well underway.”

O’Hara emphasized the significance of the Western Rail Corridor for the West and Northwest regions. He described the comments from Iarnród Éireann’s CEO as encouraging, reinforcing the case for prioritizing funding for the project. He remarked, “The rail line from Athenry to Claremorris can be reopened in the lifetime of this Government if the political will is there and ultimately extended on to Sligo via Collooney.”

The Deputy urged the Minister for Transport to ensure that the necessary funding is allocated in the forthcoming NDP sectoral spending plans, which are set to be published in the coming weeks. O’Hara’s commitment to this project reflects a broader push for improved transport infrastructure in the region, which could enhance connectivity and spur economic growth.

As discussions around the future of transport in Ireland continue, the outcome of these funding requests will be closely watched by local communities and stakeholders involved in regional development.