The commuter: the 80-mile-a-day man

David Maguire (36) moved from Drumcondra in Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's constituency in north Dublin, to Navan in Co Meath, eight…

David Maguire (36) moved from Drumcondra in Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's constituency in north Dublin, to Navan in Co Meath, eight years ago.

He faces a daily 80-mile commute from his home to and from the Institute of Technology in Tallaght.

David has a vision of taking the promised train from Navan and changing in north Dublin to the promised Metro West to Tallaght. Until then, he drives in his car.

It is a burning issue in his household. Because of the need to avoid the congested city, his route is via Dunboyne and Clondalkin, a route which is of no use to his wife, Dearbhla, who commutes to Blanchardstown in a second car.

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David told The Irish Times he was disappointed that the Estimates did not contain "anything concrete" about the opening of the Navan railway line.

Meath on Track, the campaign to reinstate the Navan railway line, which David supports, said it had been assured by Minister for Education Mary Hanafin that the Government would bring forward planning for the reopening of rail services to Navan. The opening date in Transport 21 is 2015.

David and many other supporters were hoping to hear the word "Navan" somewhere in the Estimates, but were disappointed.

On the possibility that the provision of the funding is contained in detail which will be announced this morning by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen, David was somewhat pessimistic: "We were promised in 1998 the railway would open in 2004. During the byelection it was 2010, and in Transport 21 it became 2015.

"We just want something concrete, a date. I would leave the car at home, I would burn it, but for now I have no choice. Maybe something will be said. We will judge them by their actions, but for now, I won't hold my breath."

- Tim O'Brien