The Western Development Commission (WDC) has stressed the need for continued public investment in the West's transport infrastructure to secure competitiveness and maintain employment in western counties.

The comments came in the wake of a presentation by WDC staff to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport on Wednesday, 24 September.

"Despite the current economic downturn, the planned investment in transport in the Western Region should not be postponed, as any delay would be a threat to the region's competitiveness and growth," said Dr Patricia O'Hara, Policy Manager at the WDC.

Dr O'Hara said quality roads were critical to maintaining competitiveness and employment with research showing poor roads increase costs, lower productivity, and reduce labour market mobility and flexibility.

"Road projects such as the Atlantic Corridor, which will run from Letterkenny to Waterford via Sligo, Tuam and Ennis, are essential for the region's competitiveness and we are concerned about the fact that there are no timelines assigned to parts of that route north of Galway city."

Speaking about the Western Rail Corridor, Dr O'Hara said: "We know that there is demand for improved rail services in the West. When Iarnród Éireann increased frequency and capacity on the Galway-Dublin route, the number of people using it increased by nine per cent to 1.6 million in 2007. Passenger numbers using the rail services from Ennis to Limerick, which is part of the Western Rail Corridor, have exceeded all expectations. These examples illustrate that if you provide the services the passengers will follow."

The Athenry to Ennis and the Galway to Athenry services are on schedule for 2009 with new stations planned at Sixmilebridge, Gort, Ardrahan, Craughwell and Oranmore. However, the Gort station has encountered a problem, with a local person objecting to the planning application.

"We understand that in early 2009, once the Ennis to Athenry section is completed, work will begin on the Tuam to Athenry section, which is due to open in 2011. The line from Tuam to Claremorris is scheduled for 2014, while the line from Claremorris to Collooney is to be preserved for future use," Dr O'Hara added.

The WDC told the Oireachtas Committee that the WRC would enhance the towns on the route, nearly all of which, showed population growth significantly above the national average in the last Census. It would also be a valuable resource for tourism in the region, it claimed.