Navan to Dublin Rail Line left out of FF/FG/Green Programme for Government
Cathaoirleach of the Meath on Track Campaign Peadar Tóibín TD has castigated the absence of the Navan to Dublin Rail Line from the new FF/FG/Green Programme for Government. He stated;
Meath has a population that is now approaching 250,000. It is the fastest growing population in the country. Meath is now one of the most populous counties. It has the highest number of commuters per capita. The majority of workers this morning left the county to go to work. That happens in no other county in the country. Meath is unique in that regard. Meath residents commute farther than commuters from any other county, yet Navan is the biggest town in the country without a rail line.
The absence of the rail line is doing untold damage to people's lives. 3 hour commutes are damaging to mind, body and family. I have raised the commuter crisis with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael many times. I have raised it with Ministers in the Dáil. Our campaign held packed public meetings around in Meath to raise the profile of the need for this critical piece of infrastructure. As part of government formation discussions with FF and FG I raised the issue again. Representatives of both FF and FG committed to the rail line just a few months ago during the election. Despite all the talk from the Greens for the need for Public Transport infrastructure they too have let Meath down.
The Meath on Track Campaign will not accept this. We will continue to exert pressure until the logic of this service get through to FF/FG/Greens