Western Rail Corridor would have ‘transformative impact’ on Mayo and wider region

The rail line between Athenry and Claremorris is one of thirty three infrastructure projects the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) are pushing to be prioritised in the revised national development plan. The cost of this project is estimated to be between €400m to €600m. 

Ballina Cllr and NWRA Cathaoirleach, Jarlath Munnelly was among the NWRA delegation at a breakfast briefing held in Dublin, where a new report outlining thirty three infrastructure projects that would have a ‘transformative impact’ on the Northern and Western Region was presented to Government Ministers, TDs, Senators and Senior Government officials. 

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Cllr Munnelly stated that “the report highlights the severe regional imbalance in public capital investment. Between 2016 and 2024, the Northern and Western Region received just 5.7% of public tenders worth over €20 million, despite accounting for over 17% of Ireland’s population”.

The table below offers a visual representation of how the other regions have fared in the same time period. 

The report, titled “Regional Infrastructure Priorities for the Northern and Western Region”, identifies the need for a minimum €9 billion in capital investment needed across the region’s transport, energy, education, water, and climate infrastructure.

The N17 Knock to Collooney road scheme, which is estimated to cost €600 million, was another of the key projects for the NWRA delegation. The publication of the report coincides with the public consultation on the revised National Development Plan (NDP), which remains open until 26th June 2025. The NDP is the Government’s long-term vision and investment strategy for national infrastructure and public services, a crucial component of Project Ireland 2040.

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NWRA Economist, John Daly said “that despite Ireland being regarded as one of the wealthiest economies in the EU, the Northern and Western Region of Ireland’s transport infrastructure ranked in the bottom 20 at 218th out of 234 regions according to the European Commission’s Regional Competitiveness Index”.