2026-04-29

There is growing concern in the town of Athenry in east Galway that a service that was introduced - the 6.50 a.m. train service from Athenry to Galway city - will be lost. In October 2025, this service was added as a temporary service in light of the works that were ongoing at Ceannt Station and Oranmore Station. As the Minister of State can imagine, there are many people who now rely on and benefit from this service, as there was no earlier service going into Galway city from Athenry. There are currently about 50 people availing of this service every day. I have been receiving messages and communications from people who are fearful that it will be lost and they will be forced back into their cars. They have been able to leave their cars in Athenry to commute on the train while avoiding traffic and getting to Galway city to work. It has been a huge quality of life enhancement for them. This was a temporary funded service until the end of July 2026, so we still have an opportunity to get this right. The service is not gone yet. The decision is with the National Transport Authority, NTA, to make around funding. I am sure the Minister of State knows this from his constituency, but the reality is that there is no available rolling stock in Irish Rail. Where is this stock going to be moved to? We need to keep this as a commuter rail service for the people of Athenry. We are a growing town with a population in excess of 5,000. For the past 18 months, we have had no bus service, despite a public service obligation being in place. I ask the Minister of State to communicate with the Minister for Transport, Deputy O’Brien, to ensure there is no loss of service in Athenry and that people who wish to avail of public transport can do so. Given the cost increases for commuting over the past few years, many people are choosing to use the train as a more economical option. It makes perfect sense and it gives them back some quality of life. A consultation was carried out in the past 18 months on what people wanted to see in Athenry for the commuter service. The consistent message was that people wanted to see more early morning services, and this was part of the response to that. This new service at 6.50 a.m. was brought in and it allowed people to be in early. There is now a fear out there that the service will be lost because it is not funded any further than July 2026. People need and depend on this service. They need to trust that we, as a Government, will continue to support people who wish to commute to work via public transport. I understand it is a decision for the NTA, but the NTA needs to look at this. Where else is it going to send the stock? Why would it reduce commuter services in Athenry given it has been such a success?

I thank Deputy Dolan for raising this important matter. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, who sends his apologies. The Deputy is correct that this is an opportunity to get this right. It is important that our public transport offering provides services that benefit people. I agree with the Deputy in that regard. In my city of Cork, we see that commuter rail is successful. It works. As the Deputy knows, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, has responsibility for policy and overall funding. As the Deputy alluded to, the NTA is the agency responsible for the provision of this transport matter. It is important to recognise - Deputy Dolan has done so - that in response to growing demand, Iarnród Éireann increased service frequency arriving into Ceannt Station before 10 a.m. from four to five trains in August. Following completion of work on the curved glass roof and the new platform 5 in late 2025, the next phase of the Ceannt Station development was completed on Saturday, 18 April. New platforms 3 and 4 also entered service. We all know the different knock-on supports that happened with the opening of the new platforms. This latest milestone equates to roughly half of the station footprint being reopened to the public, ensuring an improved passenger experience and a more streamlined service for local rail users. That links to what the Deputy wants to see happen with the continuation of the service that he spoke about. Through funding from the Department of housing's urban regeneration and development fund and the NTA, Ceannt Station has been undergoing significant works for the past two years to deliver a modern, fully integrated and fully accessible transport hub in the heart of Galway. This commuter service is part of that, which is pivotal. As a gateway to the city, the investment will deliver better platforms and more capacity. For example, the number of platforms has gone from two to five, which will significantly expand the rail service well into the future. We have a new southern entrance and facade, creating that modern facade that we need. Enhanced connectivity and interchange between rail and bus services will make it easier and more attractive for customers to use multiple modes. There will be improved accessibility and waiting areas, along with that ticketing office improvement about which we all get representations from people who use the buses and trains. Additionally, future bus bay expansion will be provided for, which is envisaged under the development of adjacent lands. In addition to the new roof, there are renovations to the northern elevation as well as infrastructure works, including track and resignalling, to support the increase in the number of platforms. Other service work is ongoing, including drainage works. It was arising from operational arrangements associated with the ongoing renewal works at Ceannt Station that in October 2025 there was an ability to introduce a temporary 6.50 a.m. Athenry to Galway service until the end of July 2026. This service was funded though the capital project funding, as a train set had to be stabled at Athenry to facilitate the works. This temporary service is funded until the end of July this year. I heard the Deputy’s point on the consultation piece and I will bring that back to the NTA and the Minister. Iarnród Éireann has submitted to the NTA the associated costs to continue the operation of this temporary service beyond 31 July. This is currently under review by the NTA. I thank the Deputy for his advocacy. He has made a cogent and clear argument this morning. I will speak to the Minister and the NTA about it. Service level increases have proven beneficial to the travelling public and commuters. At a time when want to see more people get out of cars, this makes imminent sense. I am happy to support it and raise the matter with the Minister and the NTA.

I appreciate the Minister of State’s comments and sentiment. This new service was welcomed when it started last October. The critical piece of the Minister of State’s reply is that these carriages were stabled at Athenry, which allowed for the early commuter service. I completely welcome the works and the incredible transformation and investment that have taken place at Ceannt Station. Regardless of what is happening in the city at Ceannt Station, however, there is nothing stopping those carriages being stabled in Athenry and used to operate that commuter service. When the new carriages come, we can enhance and further expand the service. We must show people that we are ambitious, and that is what I want to see from the NTA. The NTA must show ambition and provide a dedicated, reliable commuter service that is stabled in Athenry and available for people when they want to use it in the morning. I understand the service was funded through capital funding for the project in Ceannt Station, but the same point remains. These carriages are like gold dust. They are hard to come by and I do not know where they are going to be moved to or whether another service will be changed. They are in Athenry, where they are serving a lot of people and working really well. I cannot see why the NTA should not fund this. Let us call a spade a spade. In the past 18 months, the NTA has not delivered a bus service for Athenry. Athenry, a town with over 5,000 people, has no bus service to Galway city. The train is the only piece of public transport that we have, so let us enhance and make the most of it. In the time to come, I hope that Ceannt Station and the passing loop at Oranmore will see an enhanced frequency of service but, right now, we have this stumbling block to overcome. We need to keep the service after July 2026.

Deputy Dolan makes a compelling case. The Deputy can be assured that I, the Department of Transport, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, are all strongly committed to providing all regions and citizens with reliable and suitable mobility options. Public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. I live in Cork where we have an ambitious plan. It has been successful. Cork, Mallow, Cobh and Midleton are beyond recognition from where they were ten years ago. The Deputy made a key point. The key point for us is that in the budget, we secured €940 million in funding for PSO and TFI Local Link services. A significant uplift of 43% has been seen, which is important. The Deputy is correct that the works in Ceannt Station have been transformative, but it is that piece about connectivity. The Government is fully supportive to continue to invest in public transport, particularly in Athenry. In the programme for Government, we are committed to a variety of changes and ways of making public transport more accessible and sustainable for the future. This service is a matter for the NTA. As I said, it is carrying out a review. It is important we communicate with the NTA in this regard. I accept that. I am happy to do so with or on behalf of the Deputy, along with the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. We have seen a transformation in the provision of public services in the Galway area. That is a credit to the Government but also to Iarnród Éireann. We should also show our appreciation to the travelling public who have had to endure a lot of hassle and hardship in that period. The Deputy’s point is well made. I am certainly happy to commit to engage with the NTA in support of the continuation of this service.