Chairperson of the Meath on Track Campaign, Peadar Tóibín TD has called for the Navan to Dublin Rail line to be designated as Critical Infrastructure under the new Critical Infrastructure Bill. Speaking in the Dáil today to the Taoiseach An Teachta Tóibín stated:
“ Meath has the second fastest growing county in the country. Navan is the largest town in the country with out a rail line. 90,000 people are commuting from Meath each day.
60,834 people commute by car every day. Its taking between 3 and 4 hours to go back and forth to work ever day, People are living in commuter hell. Its costing on family time. Its costing pocket and its costing the environment. This project would significantly ease traffic in Dublin, the M50 and on the M3.
It was 1st promised by FF in 1994, the earliest date for delivery will be 2036. People who started working when it was promised will be retired before its complete. Its glacially slow.
The proposed Railway Order for the Navan to Dublin rail line has been delayed from 2026 to 2029. Why can’t departments achieve planning on time?
The Meath on Track Campaign has done a terrific job in pushing this project forward. Today the public consultation is being announced. This is good news. However the proposed line may be objected to and may have a judicial review taken against it. This would further delay the building of the line. We simply cant afford anymore delays.
Given that this project has been so disastrously slow we are asking the government to designate the Navan to Dublin Rail Line as critical infrastructure project under the new Critical infrastructure Bill to ensure it gets built. CRIOCH
