Paul Lawless TD asked the Minister for Transport: Rail Network

Paul Lawless TD of Castlebar, Co Mayo, raised a concern in the Dáil on 21 May 2026 about the rail service that links his constituency with Ballina. He asked the Minister for Transport whether the Minister had been made aware of the extended waiting times that passengers experience at Manulla Junction, where the 7:28 a.m. Castlebar‑to‑Ballina train is scheduled to arrive. According to Lawless, the wait can reach up to 70 minutes for those who must transfer to the Athlone service that runs through the junction.

The TD questioned the rationale behind the current timetable arrangement, which forces passengers to wait for the Athlone connection before they can continue to Ballina. He asked whether the Minister would request that Irish Rail review this configuration with a view to reducing the delays that affect commuters and other travellers in the region.

The question was recorded in the official Oireachtas debates and reflects a broader concern among residents of Castlebar about the reliability of the rail link to Ballina. The issue has also been noted by local media, with a coverage signal from Midwest Radio mentioning Paul Lawless TD in relation to the matter.

For more details, see the Oireachtas record and Midwest Radio coverage.

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