Frustration over rail link to Shannon Airport being put ‘on long finger’

FORMER Limerick City TD Brian Leddin has said it’s “frustrating” that he believes plans for a rail spur to Shannon Airport have been put “on the long finger” by Government.

Cabinet approved a five-year transport investment plan committing €24.3bn overall last month.

Missing from that plan, which covers road, rail, maritime and Active Travel funding, however, was plans to put Shannon Airport on track.

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Mr Leddin said it’s a missed opportunity.

“What has happened is the Government has basically put it on the long finger. By building a railway to an international airport like Shannon, it will basically turbo-charge the development of the Mid-West region and that's an opportunity which has been missed,” he said.

He pointed out that linking Shannon Airport, via a spur from Sixmilebridge, is enshrined in both the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy and the strategic rail review.

“But they have taken a decision not to progress it at this stage which is very remiss because it would have been a huge driver for the region, for both counties Limerick and Clare,” he said.

Mr Leddin, who was Limerick’s first Green TD between 2020 and 2024, contrasted this with the inclusion of other rail links in the five-year transport plan.

“What Government has essentially said is other projects are priorities. They have said the railway line from Athenry to Claremorris which serves a much smaller population, which has much lower potential, is a higher priority than connecting Shannon to the national rail network,” he said.

Mr Leddin believes the Shannon rail link is more of a priority for the Mid-West than the Limerick to Foynes bypass, which is included in the five-year investment plan.

Fianna Fail Senator Dee Ryan said the two are not mutually exclusive of one another.

“We want both, and I am actually meeting the Minister for Transport to discuss this. What was announced isn’t the end of what is possible in the lifetime of this Government. It is the larger ticket items which were announced,” she said.

Ms Ryan believes the Limerick to Foynes road is a higher priority, however, than the Shannon rail spur.

“The Limerick to Foynes road, prioritised under the National Development Plan, got its funding commitment to complete. It is of strategic importance to us nationally as it joins the Port of Foynes to the motorway network at Limerick,” said the former Chamber boss.