The re-opening of rail lines across the west off Ireland would be of huge benefit to local communities according to a Westmeath Green Party member.
The Transport Minister and Green Party Leader, Eamon Ryan, says he wants to see older rail lines in the west and south return to their original use, not turned into greenways.
However, Councillor Louise Heavin believes the issue should not have to be a choice between losing a greenway to gain a rail line
There had been some initial plans for the Claremorris to Athenry, and Waterford to Wexford lines to be turned into greenways.
Speaking on Let's Talk today, the Green Councillor says that rail infrastructure will be significantly easier to install on former tracks than developing new routes.
While she believes Greenways are vital to local communities, Councillor Heavin says there are easier options to develop the walking and cycling routes elsewhere:
'It's not just about bringing tourists to an area it's also about access for people that they can bring their kids along a road without any cars on it.
I mean there was an attitude of closing rail lines for years and decades and we've closed a lot of very valuable rail line.
That was really a backwards step in my mind of a policy decision.
At the time we should have been encouraging more people to use the trains, we should have been running more trains at better times and we should have been upgrading our infrastructure.
We weren't doing that at the time but now we are doing it.'
