The Western Rail Corridor would bring enormous economic benefits to Galway and the wider region, enabling it to attract investment and jobs, and improve the quality of life for those who live there.
This is the view of Sinn Féin Galway East representative Louis O’Hara, who was speaking at the recent SF Ard Fheis, where delegates unanimously passed a motion calling for the reopening of the rail line to passenger and freight services.
Mr O’Hara said the reopening of the WRC was vital as the western region is "in decline”, a status confirmed by the EU’s recent downgrading of the region to being ‘in transition’.
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"Due to successive centre-right governments, including the current Government, the West of Ireland has long suffered from underinvestment and a lack of opportunities, particularly for our young people,” said Mr O’Hara, who called for “significant State and EU investment” in infrastructure such as the WRC.
He also said reopening the WRC would have environmental, as well as economic, benefits. "And at a time when we are being asked to reduce our emissions and use public transport to tackle climate change, the reopening of the rail line makes perfect sense,” he said.
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However, Mr O’Hara [pictured above] was critical of the Government, accusing it of using the all-island rail review as an excuse to “kick the can down the road” and avoid making a decision on the future of the rail line.
“That simply isn’t good enough, the West of Ireland is in crisis and we need real action now from the Government to turn things around,” he said. "People in the West are sick of being treated as second class citizens, fed up with underinvestment, and no longer willing to accept the lack of jobs and opportunity.”
