'Needs the green light'- Clare TD urges go ahead for flood relief work on train line

Fine Gael TD for Clare, Joe Cooney, has called on the Department of Transport to move swiftly to progress vital flood relief works on the Ennis to Limerick rail line at Ballycar, and to accelerate progress on the proposed reopening of Crusheen railway station.

Deputy Cooney said there is a viable drainage solution to prevent further flooding of the railway at Ballycar.

“We now have a clear roadmap to prevent flooding of the line and manage downstream impacts. What’s urgently needed is the political will to fund and deliver it.”

The preferred solution is expected to cost approximately €16.7 million including VAT (2020 estimate), but for it to proceed, a government department must identify a funding source and appoint a responsible agency, as the proposed works fall outside railway property.

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“This project is shovel-ready, and it simply needs the green light,” Deputy Cooney said. “Each winter brings renewed risk of disruption. I’m calling on the Department of Transport to prioritise this scheme before further delays impact rail services and passengers in Clare.”

He added that the works should be viewed in the broader context of the Western Rail Corridor, “Securing reliable access into Limerick, and potentially to Shannon Airport, is critical to the long-term viability of the entire project.”

Deputy Cooney also expressed his frustration over the lack of progress in reopening Crusheen railway station. Clare County Council has submitted a funding application under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) to support a broader community-led project in Crusheen that includes preliminary work to advance the station’s reopening.

“Iarnród Éireann has already backed the council’s application, but unless the RRDF application is approved, this project won't move past the starting line,” Cooney said. “There is strong community support for restoring rail services to Crusheen, and we should be doing everything possible to make that happen.”

A decision on the RRDF application is expected by September 2025. If successful, it will enable a prefeasibility study on local transport needs, including the potential reopening of the station.

“I will continue to raise this at every level to ensure that Crusheen and Ballycar are not left behind. Investment in rural rail must match the ambition of our communities,” Cooney concluded.