"We need to continue the cross party support for this project or a major opportunity could be lost to the West. This is the cheapest piece of infrastructure around at just a fraction of the cost of most other transport projects. This project also has universal support across the region and has no stumbling blocks or planning issues in its way."

"Ireland is likely to suffer a major financial blow when Kyoto fines are levied and people will be asking why we did so little to prevent it. We can reduce the impact of these fines considerably by focusing on public transport projects such as the Western Rail Corridor. The Greens have campaigned for the Western Rail Corridor since 1998, longer than any other political party. The BMW funds were under used during the boom, and it would be a crying shame if the development of the West gets put on the back burner yet again."

However, Fianna Fáil Deputy Frank Fahey denied that interest was waning in the project and said there was no indication that progress would be affected by budget cuts.

"The first phase of this project is underway at the moment at a cost of €100 million and is on schedule to open by 2009. This is much quicker than anyone would have thought. We have also been in talks with Clare TDs about increasing the bus services between Ennis and Shannon. We are discussing the creation of a high frequency bus run, such as every ten minutes, which is a very significant step also. I was in Gort as a young local representative when the last train left and this has always been a project that I have been passionate about. There has been no reason to believe that this development will be hit by budget cuts and I remain committed to seeing it through."

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