West=On=Track - News

Taoiseach clear in what he said

Sligo Champion - 9th March 2005

Sean O Neachtain, MEP for the constituency of North and West has fully welcomed the comments today by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in support of the Western Rail Corridor.

The Taoiseach was very clear in what he said and he made the following key points:

• That he fully supports the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor
• That he knows that it will be a ten year plan
• Financial arrangements in support of this project are with the Department of Finance at this time.

"I have strongly lobbied for the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor because it is a vital economic component in support of the future economic development of the West of Ireland.

"This project fully fits in with the commitment of the Government to promote balanced regional development and to implement the National Spatial Strategy.

"I hope that the expert working group which is looking at this specific project can report back as soon as possible with it's recommendations as to how to move this project can move forward in a practical sense.