0:00
Well, first of all, it is a very positive day for the McDonald family, but also for the
0:05
community in the wider region around Dora and around the exit of the M.A.C. in motorway.
0:12
It's been, I suppose, promised for some time.
0:16
There's a very considerable amount of employment generated by this new enterprise because there's
0:24
a very significant amount of traffic that just bypasses NS every day between Galway and
0:29
Nimric people coming from Carc and onwards into the west of Ireland and to have a facility
0:33
now close to the motorway, it will improve economic activity in the area, it's providing
0:39
jobs and it's a positive story.
0:43
But of course, it's a motorway stop, it's a filling station and there is a very considerable
0:50
crisis in the cast of fuel at the minute and that's something that Minister O'Brien will
0:55
I've already spoken with those particularly in the farming sector who haven't benefited
1:01
from the recent reduction because of the way exercise is not levied on farm fuel or on green
1:08
So there's real pressures in the economy as well as it said, it's a positive story.
1:13
There are other elements that have to be addressed by government and as a sort of identified
1:19
And yes, of course, we need to get continued investment into the county for roads and
1:23
that's the same in every county.
1:25
But we are fighting that the Iraqis team in Claire made up of Deputy Crow, Deputy Coney
1:33
and Deputy Dana from Sinn Fein all work well together in putting forward the best case
1:42
on behalf of the constituents in Claire and that continues even with Minister O'Brien
1:47
and the county tomorrow.
1:49
And as well to me, a comment that Minister O'Brien made recently when he was questioned
1:53
about the progress of the Shannon rail link was that he saw it as a longer term project.
1:58
And it would have been included in the all island strategic rail review for 2030.
2:03
Claire people want to see that much sooner, especially when we see all the talk and all
2:07
the plans that are going into a metro link for Dublin and we're hearing about imbalance
2:10
regional development when the transform minister is saying that that's a longer term project.
2:15
That has to be a little concerning.
2:17
No, it's not to be honest with you, it is a longer term project.
2:21
What Shannon Airport needs is continued growth of aircraft access.
2:28
So we need more flights to more locations and the funding supports that have been put
2:33
in place is assisting the management of Shannon in being competitive and being able to
2:38
market to airlines to open up new routes.
2:43
And the recent inclusion of Shannon in the regional investment program is very welcome.
2:52
And you know, there is considerable very good road access to the airport.
2:57
There's good public transport access to the airport through the boss network.
3:02
So of course, longer term as the region grows and traffic becomes more of a problem rail
3:10
links into the airport will be welcome as continued development.
3:13
But what we need right now is more air routes bringing more passengers to the region from
3:21
a tourism perspective and also for critical business links that will continue the growth
3:26
of our economic activity in Shannon, the wider Midwest region.
3:31
We need continued support from the government in terms of improving our wider road network
3:37
outside of the main routes so that people who live and work in the more regional parts
3:43
of county care also have access to a good road network and that it shouldn't be just concentrated
3:49
on the EMA team are in the ring roads around in us.