This article is from page 6 of the 2008-06-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
HOPE springs eternal for the resi- dents of Crusheen this week follow- ing the confirmation that Iarnrod Eireann will reexamine the possibil- ity of building a stop for the Western Rail Corridor in the village, months after ruling out the proposal.
It has emerged that, following a meeting with the Crusheen Devel- opment Association last month, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamaon O’Cuiv (FF), has urged the rail company to
reconsider its position on the Crush- een stop.
Responding to a Dail question from Clare TD Pat Breen (FG), Minis- ter O’Cuiv said that CLAR fund- ing could be made available for the project.
“I met a delegation regarding Crusheen station on Friday, May 16. I indicated that in discussions with Jarnr6d Eireann, further proposals had been requested from them in re- FVe Te) MaKOMnd Cem enim ise Um Goue lee under the CLAR programme,” said Minister O’Cuiv.
“T also indicated that, in this con- text, 1f proposals for Crusheen sta- tion were included, they would be considered in respect of CLAR fund- ing, subject to such funding being available.”
The announcement has been given a cautious welcome by Deputy Breen, saying that it could solve the problem in Crusheen if brought to fruition.
“The local Crusheen community have been very proactive in progress- ing this matter and Clare County Council are very supportive, having agreed to provide the car parking fa-
cilities,’ said Deputy Breen.
“IT welcome the positive signals emanating from Minister O’Cuiv and I hope that when the outstand- ing issues are resolved that budget- ary constraints will not delay this project.
“While there were outstanding is- sues to be resolved, he did indicate that once these issues had been ad- dressed and they re-submitted pro- posals for CLAR Funding in relation to the Western Rail Corridor, which included a stop at Crusheen, he would look favourably on this.”