Funds for Crusheen stop ‘imminent’

Funding for a rail stop in the North Clare village of Crusheen is expected to be sanctioned in the coming weeks, it has been revealed.

Clare Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley said a positive announcement is imminent regarding funding for the stop.
Deputy Dooley, along with Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey, met with the Crusheen Rail Stop Committee last Friday. Following the meeting, it emerged that the funding would likely come from Iarnród Éireann, The Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Clare County Council and the Department of Transport.
“The chairman of Iarnród Éireann has again confirmed to me that a rail stop will be built at Crusheen.
“Everyone living in and around Crusheen has been pushing hard to have a rail stop provided on the recently opened Ennis to Galway line,” said Deputy Dooley. 
“It is important for a wide variety reasons, varying from business interests to tourism, to general transport issues,” he continued. 
“We have been pressing the Government to provide funding for this rail stop for some time now and from meetings that I attended this week and discussions that I have had with the main players, I believe that our lobbying has been successful and that a formal announcement will be made very shortly,” Deputy Dooley added.
While refusing to specify when such an announcement might be made, he said he felt it is imminent and acknowledged that it could happen before the end of this month.
“I will continue to press this matter with the various departments until we get a signed document.
“A rail stop is vitally important for the Crusheen area and I think this is becoming clearer as more and more people make use of the Ennis to Galway line,” Deputy Dooley concluded.