I hope funds will lead to railway reopening, says MEP MacManus

MEP Chris MacManus is hopeful that a review of EU transport will bring funding to the west of Ireland. The Midlands-North West representative, pictured below, was speaking as the European Parliament met last week to discuss funding for transport on proposals which will be announced by the European Commission later this year. In particular, he is hopeful this will pave the way for the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor in order to deliver balanced regional development.

He said: “This proposal is eagerly awaited, and Sinn

Fein has repeatedly called for a revision of the TEN-T [Trans-European Transport Network] to include the west of Ireland and pave the way for the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor providing a rail link from Athenry to Claremorris initially, eventually being extended on to Sligo, Donegal and Derry, connecting the entire western seaboard.”

“The TEN-T is the EU’s programme to fund transport. It is clear that the TEN-T must be revised to reflect the climate crisis and to prioritise investment in sustainable transport. “I welcome that this report highlights the need for further EU investment in rail, and this is an area where Ireland falls behind other EU member states.”

The Sinn Féin MEP concluded by calling for the regional imbalances to be addressed.

He said: “It doesn’t make sense to repeatedly invest in Ireland’s already well-developed areas, when transport investment in the West would benefit our rural and peripheral regions, while ensuring that we follow a trajectory of balanced regional development.

“I will continue to keep a sharp eye on this issue and push for EU transport funding for regions that need it most.”