'Westmeath can help solve Dublin's housing crisis'

Westmeath could help solve Dublin's accommodation crisis if there was better public transport for would-be commuters.

That's according to the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport Deputy Robert Troy who says if that if the government improved public transport links from Dublin to the midlands, it could entice city dwellers to move down.

“If we are to look at long term future planning we need to invest a great amount of resources into public transport. If we do that we will be able to attract industry and other development. Also anyone who decides to live here and commute would have a fast, reliable, efficient public transport into work.”

The Fianna Fail man says that, at present, people commuting from Westmeath to the capital have a “tough slog” due to the services currently available.

“If there was a twin train track from Dublin to Longford it would go a long way to reducing travel times. You'd also be able to increase frequency of trains.”

If some of the today's city dwellers relocated to Westmeath, it would be a “colossal boost to the local economy”, Deputy Troy said. Unlike many parts of the country, he believes the “capacity within its services” to facilitate a large number of new arrivals from the Pale.

“We have the schools, we have zoned lands. We have good recreation facilities, fantastic local sporting clubs. We have so much to offer in the midlands.

"We have a lot of good quality services and would lead to a good quality of life for people who would be interested in moving to Westmeath.

"The one thing that we don't have is the adequate public transport links to support such a move.”

Meanwhile, there was one piece of good news for local rail travellers last week after Iarnród Éireann announced that it is putting on an extra Sunday night train to meet an increase in demand from third level students.

The new train will leave Longford station for Dublin at 6.50pm on Sundays. It will arrive in Mullingar at 7.22pm.

Iarnród Éireann says that the extra train will run through the month of October and into early November as new students tend to travel more frequently.