Rail Network
Dail Éireann — 2021-03-24
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Bernard Durkan (FG), Kildare North

I ask the Minister to look at the gist of the questions. In my case it relates to the use of rail transport and encouraging the use of rapid rail in growing communities in densely populated areas in line with the national development plan.

Eamon Ryan (GP), Dublin Bay South

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 98, 128, 397, 398 and 403 together.
I will absolutely commit to doing that. I raise one concern. We will have a major challenge because we will have so many proposals for investment in both our rail and road networks and the rail investment in particular will be a multiple of the resources that are available. To make the investments that we need to make work and to justify them we will need to ensure that our housing plans match our public transport plans.
Last week, I looked at the strategic housing development applications for County Kildare in which obviously the Deputy has a keen interest. In recent years, it seemed that there was little coherence between approval for large housing developments and proximity to public transport services, irrespective of whether they were upgraded. Key to being able to afford the rail investment is ensuring that our housing is in the same location. That applies across the country, but particularly in County Kildare.

Catherine Connolly (CC), Galway West

We have run out of time. Deputy Durkan may make a quick comment if he likes.

Bernard Durkan (FG), Kildare North

Now is the crucial time to plan ahead for the transport that is needed in the future. In the past, we planned for the time in which the plan was made. I do not believe that is enough any more. I believe we now need to plan well ahead and plan for economic, social and community expansion.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2021-03-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:49:09+00:00
Sitting date: 2021-03-24