The Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe says controversial savings at Irish Rail must be delivered.

Mr Donohoe says if the planned changes are deferred any longer, the problems at the company are going to get bigger and bigger.

Members of two unions are planning four days of work stoppages in reaction to the changes in the coming weeks.

They will coincide with a number of All-Ireland GAA fixtures.

The GAA is calling for unions at Irish Rail to return to talks and "see sense" over work stoppages.

National Bus and Rail Workers Union (NBRU) and SIPTU workers at the company have announced four days of stoppage in the coming weeks. They are set to begin with a 48-hour stoppage by NBRU members from Sunday August 24th, which is the same day as the football semi-final between Mayo and Kerry.

Further stoppages are planned on both All-Ireland final days - September 7th and 21st.

Mr Donohoe has renewed his appeal for more discussions on the row. He also told Newstalk Breakfast that the savings were supposed to kick in last January.