Irish Minister sees benefits in rail connectivity between Derry and Donegal
Transport Minister favours line connecting Donegal to north rather than line connecting Donegal to Sligo
The Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan, has said that an investment proposal which could see a rail network which would run from Portadown to Letterkenny should be given priority rather than one which would connect Donegal to Sligo.
He said Donegal has suffered for decades because of the lack of infrastructure and acknowledged the adverse impact the absence of a rail network has had on the county. The minister was responding to a question from Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív in Dáil Éireann.
A strategic rail review is at an advanced stage but the lack of a functioning Executive in Northern Ireland is understood to be delaying the publication of it.
Minister Ryan said that he supports the establishment of a rail route from Portadown through to Donegal, he said: “I absolutely believe in the need for balanced development particularly for the north west and particularly for the lack of connectivity to Donegal. Sligo does have a rail service but Donegal doesn’t and Donegal suffers as a result,” he said.
Mr Ryan said that there were limited resources but he believes a rail network which could connect the north to Donegal should be given priority.
He said: “There is another investment proposal which I believe should get priority which is a rail line running from Portadown, west, via Dungannon, Omagh, Derry and Letterkenny.
"That in my mind would have huge benefits in terms of all the towns along that route and connecting Letterkenny to Derry which is a critical investment priority in my mind.”
He said that a rail network in the future may see Donegal and Sligo connected in the future but that for now a rail connecting Letterkenny to the north was one which he favoured more.
“That rather than spending what would be a very significant sum of money on the Charlestown, Clooney and Sligo and up to Donegal that route. I don’t expect to see that recommended. I think we should concentrate on the other line.”