An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-16
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Mark Duffy (FG), Labour Panel

Very similarly, in relation to public transport and improving services for commuters in County Mayo, I would like to raise an issue that has been highlighted to me on many occasions. In my role on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, I have been advocating for a shelter at the Manulla Junction platform. For those who may not be familiar with it, in County Mayo there are two train lines, one originating in Ballina and the other beginning in Westport. They meet at Manulla Junction, which has no road or vehicular access. Over the past number of years as a public representative, I have been passionate about campaigning for improved connectivity between Mayo and Dublin. We were successful in achieving the early-morning rail service, which has gone from strength to strength since it was introduced a number of years ago, and it connects a whole cohort of people in north Mayo.
A constituent contacted me a number of days ago to explain how, when the Westport line stops and lets passengers off for the Foxford and Ballina line, all the passengers are left out on the platform and in inclement weather, especially at this time of year, all of the passengers are soaking wet by the time they get onto the next carriage because they have to wait for the other train to come. It is a very small and basic ask. The answer I received from Irish Rail was that the passengers can stay on the first train because it will not leave before the next one goes, but try telling that to people who are afraid they will miss the connecting train and that the train will take off before they leave. Generally, human nature is to get off the train and be ready so you do not get stuck on a train going in the other direction. I ask that we have a discussion on rail infrastructure with the Minister for Transport to improve shelters, whether they be at bus stops in areas where they are needed or on platforms like the Manulla Junction, in order to improve the public transport experience for all routes. I would appreciate if we could consider having that debate.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-16