Rose Conway-Walsh Demands Answers on West Left Out of NDP
Rose Conway-Walsh criticised the National Development Plan for omitting key projects in the West and demanded clarity on whether the Western Rail Corridor will be delivered. She reported strong anger from local representatives and challenged the minister and the Taoiseach over inconsistent statements.
Omitted projects in the West
Rose Conway-Walsh highlighted that major projects were not named in the National Development Plan, citing no mention of the R312, no mention of the N26 and no mention of Mayo University Hospital, with only one mention of the Western Rail Corridor.
Calls for clarity on the Western Rail Corridor
She pressed the minister directly, asking whether the Western Rail Corridor will be delivered as promised, and said comments by the Taoiseach and the minister after publication of the plan appear at odds with the absence of a clear commitment.
Local political reaction
Conway-Walsh said Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors are "really, really angry" at what has happened and at what she described as the government's turning its back on the West.
Government response on regional balance and investment
The minister responded that the West of Ireland is "absolutely not forgotten" and argued the National Development Plan aims to rebalance the country away from over-reliance on the capital. The minister said the plan focuses on quality of life and mobility through investments in broadband, public transport, better rail systems, commuter rail and light rail to support population growth outside Dublin.
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Minister, yesterday was a day for bold, transformative decisions, and we in the West waited with anticipation for our share of the National Development Plan, the 650 billion National Development Plan, but there was no individual projects. You mentioned earlier on that individual projects had been named. May was not mentioned anywhere in the National Development Plan, no mention of the R312, no mention of the N26, no mention of Mayo University Hospital, and one mention of the Western Rail Corridor. Now, it's not me even saying this, Minister. Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors are really, really angry at what has happened, at the way that this government has turned its back on the West yesterday. Now, in relation to the Western Rail Corridor, comments made by the Taoiseach and indeed by Minister Rhine after the publication of the NDP seem at odds with the absence of any commitment. I want to know, I want to know, is the Western Rail Corridor going to be delivered as was promised? Deputy, first of all, the West of Ireland is absolutely not forgotten by this National Development Plan, quite the opposite, actually. The whole point of this National Development Plan is to try to rebalance the country in the context of an over-reliance as an economic driver of the capital city and the East Coast. And as a result, you have people working in Dublin who live as far away as Portlaoise and further, who are commuting every day. And so what this development plan is about is actually changing that, focusing on quality of life, focusing on where people work, how they move around, being able to work from home, investing in things like broadband, public transport systems, better rail systems, commuter rail, light rail systems and so on, ensuring that not only is the population growth outside of Dublin in cities outpacing the population growth in Dublin, but also in rural towns and villages. And so it's in that context that infrastructure in the West of Ireland will be funded. Thank you. Thank you.
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