There are concerns that political support for the Western Rail Corridor is waning, and that the project may be the latest victim of a series of Government budget cuts.

Concerns are also emerging in the wake of a €40 million cut to the Gateway Innovation Fund.

Galway City Council had applied for funding for three major projects; a town centre for Ardaun, a concert hall and conference centre for the Fisheries Field, and an upgrade of the commuter rail infrastructure for Athenry. If all three bids were successful, Galway would have taken 90 per cent of the total funds nationally.

However, Labour's Michael D Higgins has warned that the cutbacks, and a deferral of the programme saving €100 million, could mean Galway will lose out.

Deputy Higgins went on to say, "there are already worrying signs appearing that work on the Western Rail Network may now be put off for yet longer than the projected period announced – a period that was already too long."

Green Party councillor Niall O Brolcháin has also expressed serious concern that an opportunity could be lost if part or all of the Western Rail Corridor is shelved amid budgetary concerns.

He said that Ministers, TDs and councillors in the West must fight their corner properly, or the West could lose this hugely important piece of infrastructure.

"It took a long time for all FF and FG politicians to fully embrace the concept but thanks to the West on Track campaign all parties now support the Western Rail Corridor," stated Cllr O Brolchain.

He warned however that some of these "band wagon hoppers" could now change their tune and abandon the project to support their own pet projects using the excuse of a recession.