The Mullingar-Sligo rail line required an investment of £30 million to upgrade it, Mr John Perry (FG, Sligo-Leitrim) said. Travel time would get slower because of the deteriorating track quality, he warned. "The travel time is the very same since 1863, when the first train came into Sligo from Mullingar. That speaks for itself."
Mr Perry, who was speaking on the adjournment, was supported by Mr Denis Naughten (FG, Longford-Roscommon).
The Minister for Public Enterprise, Mrs O'Rourke, said she understood from Iarnrod Eireann that in the period 1994-97 critical sections of the track on the line between Mullingar and Sligo were improved at a total expenditure of £2.9 million. The company had also assured her that track-work on the line would benefit from a further £1.2 million this year.