Unions frustration after Navan Rail Line project excluded from Critical Infrastructure Bill

Meath Trade Unions have expressed disappointment and frustration that the Navan Rail Link has not been designated as Critical Infrastructure under the new Critical Infrastructure Act.

The Meath Council of Trade Unions had demanded the rail line be included as a critical infrastructure project to bypass the "glacial" planning delays and threat of judicial reviews that have historically stalled the project.

"This is very disappointing. We call on the Meath government ministers to make special representations to have this included as critical infrastructure" said John Regan council chair.

"This designation is vital to shield the project from frivolous judicial reviews, streamline planning permissions, and to fast-track the Railway Order via An Board Pleanála. For a project that will move 4,400 commuters per hour, any further institutional delay is utterly unacceptable."

The Government has designated three transport projects as Critical Infrastructure under new powers to accelerate infrastructure delivery.

They are MetroLink, Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme and Galway City Ring Road.

In its submission on the Navan Railway Emerging Preferred Route, the Meath Council of Trade Unions (MCTU) welcomed the published plans for the 34-kilometre electrified Navan Railway project corridor.

The trade unionists also called for a state owned contracting company to carry out the development.

The council, which represents thousands of unionised workers in SIPTU, ASTI, Mandate, Connect and Forsa said its members represent the core of the 90,000 daily commuters from Meath, over 60,000 of whom are forced to rely on private cars.

"The lack of a Navan rail link forces these 60,000 daily commuters onto roads, causing significant carbon emissions and air pollution that undermines Ireland's Climate Action Plan goals. An electrified rail line offers a sustainable solution, with the capacity to remove thousands of cars by shifting 4,400 passengers per hour to transit, while incorporating green infrastructure and biodiversity protections.

"We demand that workers economic and social well-being be prioritised in the final route design.

"This project can no longer be handled with standard bureaucratic timelines. Over 30 years of broken promises and planning delays have trapped Meath workers in commuter hell, costing families, hours of lost time and massive financial strain."

The council says that working families in Meath are facing an unsustainable cost-of-living and travel crisis - workers driving from Navan to Dublin city centre face an estimated €16 to €26 daily in fuel, vehicle wear, M3 toll fees, city parking and possible disciplines for loss of productivity and arriving late for work.

"Commuters relying on public transport spend roughly €14 to €20 daily for a return ticket on regional bus routes. While the proposed 24 per cent peak time service increase on the Bus Éireann NX corridor provides short-term relief, buses remain vulnerable to major M3/M50 bottlenecks. Peak road congestion routinely pushes out commute times past 70 minutes each way and 140 minutes per day.

"Meath is the second fastest-growing county in Ireland. Massive residential developments are continually expanding around Navan and Dunshaughlin and other areas. Leaving these rapidly growing housing hubs disconnected from a high-frequency DART+ network is poor urban planning. We demand that the National Transport Authority (NTA) structure a fair, flat-rate TFI Leap zonal fare structure so that workers and their families moving to Meath are not priced out of sustainable travel."

The submission also insists that the rail project must utilise local trade labour. "We demand explicit project history agreements that ensure high-quality, unionised jobs, fair pension contributions, and strict compliance with Sectoral Employment Orders (SEOs)."

The unions point out that the project provides an opportunity to pilot a state-owned construction company which would prevent a repeat of the escalating costs that the children’s hospital has overran and continuing every passing day. "In addition, this pilot could bring about the reduction in the chains of sub-contracting. The project can and must be completed with a maximum use of

two contractors involved throughout the project.

"With the capital footprint of this project valued at an estimated €750 million, we can no longer rely on private developers who prioritise profit margins over public good and worker welfare.

"The Meath Council of Trade Unions strongly advocates for the establishment of a State Owned Construction Company to directly execute this project. This public utility must be

tasked with building the core €750 million rail infrastructure corridor, the required high-density, affordable public housing developments clustered around the new transit hubs and all associated commuter parking and Park & Ride facilities.

"By utilising a state-owned enterprise, the State can bypass the cost-cutting, outsourcing, and delays typical of private tendering.

"This will ensure every euro spent goes directly toward high-quality infrastructure and guarantees fair pay, pensions, and union-backed working conditions for the construction workforce.

The submission supports the proposed stations at Navan North, Navan Central, Kilmessan, and Dunshaughlin.

"To make these stations truly useful for our members, the final plan must guarantee: substantial Park & Ride capacity - the designated Park & Ride locations at Kilmessan, Dunshaughlin, and Navan North must feature high-capacity parking that is free or heavily subsidised for Leap Card holders. This ensures commuters from broader areas like Oldcastle, Kells, Ballivor, Summerhill and areas of County Cavan can transition smoothly to the rail."

The submission also calls for sheltered bike and pedestrian links. "Hiigh-quality, secure bicycle lockers and sheltered platforms must be built to support workers walking or cycling to their local

stations.

"The NTA must redesign Local Link and Bus Éireann networks to act as immediate feeder services to match train arrivals."

The submission demands strict compliance with Construction Sectoral Employment Orders (SEOs), guaranteed pension contributions, and strong health and safety protections during construction.

"The Navan Rail Link is a vital workers' right and a piece of national critical infrastructure. Moving this project forward will significantly lower travel costs, reduce carbon emissions, and improve the quality of life for workers across Meath. The Meath Council of Trade Unions urges the design team to address these worker-centric needs in the final Option Selection Report" it concludes.