Unease over rail project as minister refuses to meet council

Alarm bells have begun to ring among councillors over the effect the viability of the M3 Parkway to Dublin rail service might have on the future development of the remainder of the link from Pace, Dunboyne, to Navan. When the subject came up for discussion at the June monthly meeting of Meath County Council last week, several councillors drew attention to the poor usage of the Pace-Dublin link by commuters. One councillor said that, on many days, just 100 cars could be seen in a car park designed to accommodate 1,200 vehicles. The comments came during a discussion on the refusal by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar to meet a delegation from the council to discuss the Navan-Dublin rail link pending a review of all capital projects now underway in his department. The refusal led to protests from Fianna Fail members of the council. Fine Gael members said a request for a meeting should await completion of the minister's review. Cllr Joe Reilly of Sinn Fein said it would be impossible to get heavy usage of the Pace-Dublin link until such time as the line was extended to populated areas of Meath. Every study carried out across the EU showed that it was vital to invest in infrastructural projects in order to get economic growth into an area. He said he was not surprised the minister would not meet a delegation from the county council. "It is because this line is not coming to Navan. The decision is made - that's why he doesn't want to meet us. I'd put all my political experience on that. He is about to rob this county and this town of the railway line," he claimed. When told by Cllr John farrelly that he was "wrong", Cllr Reilly replied: "I hope I am wrong." Cllr Wayne Harding said he hoped that Cllr Farrelly was not preparing his fellow councillors for bad news by saying that the line to Pace was "not viable". Cathaoirleach Cllr Anne Dillon Gallagher said she was very sorry that Cllr Reilly was taking such a negative view. Cllr Shane Cassells said: "Remember what we requested - simply a meeting for information on the review that is happening. We wanted to make our case and bring the minister up to speed because he is a new minister. It is very ominous and very worrying for this town (Navan)," he said. Cllr Dillon Gallagher said everyone was in agreemnt that they are behind the railway line. "We will get the meeting when the time is right," she declared. Cllr Maria Murphy said there were certain "blips" at the moment with regard to the rail line to Dunboyne, but she was sure that these would be sorted out and that there would be a continuation of the passenger line to Navan. "It is an asset to this area and we will fight for it," she said. Cllr Bill Carey said it was a pity the council debate had gone on so long "because the longer it went on, the worse it got". It was clear that a review of the National Development Plan was taking place later this year and they should wait for that. "I don't know whether Joe Reilly is right or not. If he is right, we know where to go next to prove him wrong." He said they knew the Dunboyne line was losing a lot of money. People had to go into the Docklands Station when they travelled from M3 Parkway and then get the Luas back into Connolly Station. He asked: "How much money is the (M3) motorway losing? It is losing a fortune and yet people want a rail line to go into opposition to it - and there is no money in the pot. Where the hell are we going?" Cllr Jenny McHugh said it was clear the minister had said in his letter that he could not meet a delegation "at this time". She suggested writing to him when his review of capital projects was finished. Cllr Brian Fitzgerald said he had one argument against the railway line - not with the proposal that it should go to Navan, but with the location of the station. He said it was obvious that there was "a serious problem" with the Pace to Dublin line. People were not using the line because of where it was going in the capital. "There is no initiative coming from Iarnrod Eireann on Connolly Station. That is why people are not using it," he said. "There are 1,200 spaces at the Pace car park but only 100 cars in it at any one time", he added. Cllr Tracey McElhenny said that councillors should plead with Minister Varadkar to meet them. She said when she heard people talking about the poor usage of the rail line, she reminded herself that Ballivor didn't even have a bus service and she herself lived eight miles from a rail line. Cllr Eugene Cassidy said the rail project was important for the whole county but a spending review was underway. "He (Mr Varadkar) is only three months in the job. He is entitled to a bit of time. We should send a letter to the minister explaining the importance of the line to County Meath. We have to put the best possible case forward," he said. Cllr Noel Leonard said he travelled on the Pace-Dublin service regularly "albeit on my OAP card". He got the train as far as Clonsilla and then changed to await a train which would take him to directly into Connolly Station. Cllr Cassells said it was important that the council use its political influence to make sure the Navan rail project was included in the minister's review.