The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív, has called for a realistic approach to the development of the western rail corridor.
The Minister, who was addres-sing a transport conference in Clarinbridge, Co Galway, yesterday, also presented new research on regional airports which shows that their success is not based on proximity to other airports, but on the length of their runways.
Mr Ó Cuív told the conference, hosted by Co Galway's Fianna Fáil mayor, Cllr Tim Rabbitt, that he believes reopening the Tuam to Galway rail link, via Athenry, as a commuter line was very feasible. This has already been heralded by his Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan.
However, there must be a sense of "realism" in the debate on opening the full link from Sligo to Limerick, he said, as this could only be done on a phased basis.
He said that an analysis conducted by his Department on regional airports showed that medium-haul capacity airports have far greater passenger numbers, irrespective of location. The reason that Kerry and Derry airports were performing far better than Galway was because of their ability to take medium-haul jets.
The Minister said that as a "passionate advocate of western development", he urged Galway airport to "revisit" the debate on its future as a result of this new information. Mr Ó Cuív confirmed his intention to issue tenders shortly for an airstrip on Inishbofin, Co Galway, and to have construction "substantially" completed this year.
Also addressing the conference, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, said he was "well aware" of the serious level of underspending on infrastructure in the Border, Midland and Western region, and had instruc- ted the National Roads Authority to address this "unacceptable im- balance" as a matter of urgency.
As a result of this "reappraisal", the total expenditure on national roads in the BMW region this year was €300 million - an increase of 62 per cent on 2003. A total of 16 projects in or benefiting the BMW region were underway, including the Kilcock-Kinnegad motorway and the Monasterevin by-pass, he said.
Work would start this year on the Loughrea by-pass in Co Galway, the Ennis by-pass in Co Clare, the Sligo inner relief road, and by-passes for Mullingar, Cavan, Monaghan, and Ballyshannon.
