Mr Jim Higgins TD has accused the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, of being out of touch with the reality of transport needs in the west of Ireland.
The Fine Gael spokesman on public enterprise refers specifically to the needs of Galway city and county, where population levels are expected to exceed a quarter of a million in the next decade.
Recently Mr Higgins asked the Minister if she intended to institute a feasibility study of the possible reopening of the Claremorris-Galway rail line, given the number of people now commuting to Galway from Mayo towns.
The Mayo TD says he was astonished at her reply to his question, which he raised late last month in the Dail. Decisions in relation to the reopening of individual railway lines were matters for the board and management of CIE and Iarnrod Eireann, Ms O'Rourke said.
"I understand from Iarnrod Eireann that they have no plans to carry out a feasibility study into the reopening of the rail line as the anticipated level of passenger carryings relative to the capital and operating costs would not justify such a service," she said.
"Passenger services on the line were closed in 1976 and main freight traffic ceased in 1987. Because of lack of patronage and in the absence of major development along the rail corridor, I am informed that the reintroduction of passenger services is unlikely to be viable."
To anyone who drives regularly between Galway and Sligo or Galway and Castlebar and who is aware of the new housing developments in small towns such as Ballinrobe and Claremorris, the last sentence may sound bizarre.
To Mr Higgins, it was unacceptable, and he described her response as "absolutely crazy". Along with the Labour TD Mr Emmet Stagg he referred to the enormous increase in traffic between Mayo and Galway, with five-mile tailbacks on the approach to Galway city at 8 a.m. each day.
He was perplexed by her response on the feasibility study. "In the absence of a feasibility study, how can somebody say the anticipated level of demand would not justify a feasibility study?"
Finally, the Minister said she did not have a costing for such a study. "I have a costing for the 33-mile section from Claremorris to Athenry," she said, and at today's prices this would require an investment of about £20 million to restore passenger services.
"That is very good value," Mr Higgins said.
"It seems so," the Minister replied, obviously a bit perplexed . . .