Madam, - In addition to the grants for cycle paths mentioned by Justin McKenna (August 1st), Fáilte Ireland has just launched a major promotion to attract cyclists to Ireland. But without rail transport to get cyclists from the ports to their chosen touring areas, the promotion is doomed to failure.
When all rail routes have their new rolling stock there will be space for only two bicycles on any train to anywhere in the country on main lines - and no space at all for bikes on spur lines. Just imagine: cycle tourists will not be able to get their bikes to Killarney by rail!
For two years I have been trying to get tourist organisations, county councillors and politicians to do something about this disastrous policy. The amazing thing about all these contacts was that nobody knew that it was happening. So much for joined-up thinking between Government Departments.
Consultants have proposed a perfectly reasonable solution to the problem, Irish Rail should be instructed by the Ministers for Transport and Tourism to accept these proposals and perform this necessary service to the tourist industry. - Yours, etc,
FRANK McCANN, Manor Kilbride, Co Wicklow.