Fine Gael Spokesperson on Tourism and Sport, Deputy Alan Dillon, has welcomed the Bradley Report on the Galway-Mayo rail link.
Deputy Dillon said: "The Bradley Report brings further clarity to the arguments surrounding the best use of the rail link between Galway and Mayo. The presentation of a favourable cost-benefit ratio demonstrates the positive economic return to the region. One element of the report offering huge opportunity to Mayo is the potential of an additional 23,000 tourists per annum travelling on the proposed rail link.
"Putting in place greater infrastructure promoting and allowing easier tourism access to our county is a must and rail offers an ideal way of doing so. The potential of an additional 23,000 tourists per annum would be a significant revenue stream for the many businesses in our county relying on tourism.
"The research and findings from the Bradley Report should now feed into the Strategic Rail Review being undertaken on an all-island basis. The recent issues with rail freight from Ballina to Dublin Port demonstrates the need for better rail connectivity to other ports around the county including Foynes, Cork and Waterford.
"For example, Cork is seeing significant growth in container traffic this year and will be undergoing an €86 million investment in a new container terminal. Mayo needs to have access to these ports where capacity is being expanded versus relying on Dublin Port which seems to be having issues around capacity."
