Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is no need at all for the Chairman to apologise. It is interesting that the Minister talked about the Bianconi coaches. My grandfather was the last coachman in Galway and he drove a Bianconi coach to Clifden, drawn by four horses. Transport in Galway is, therefore, in my blood. I would like to talk to the Minister about this light rail project. Anybody looking at the city of Galway would certainly not use its layout if building a city. There is a very active group in Galway concerned with bringing light rail to the city. An excellent report was prepared by Mr. Murt Coleman, chartered engineer, with whom I ask the Minister to engage.

Bringing more buses into Galway will not solve the city's problems. Some 336,000 cars a week travel into the city. I do not live in Galway now and I am very thankful I do not. The traffic congestion in the city is bound to have a negative effect on foreign direct investment or any other sort of investment which would create jobs. It has become very difficult to travel across the city. I understand there is a plan in place. The Minister has shown tremendous imagination and willingness to listen and to reappraise situations today. I ask that he agree to meet with the light rail group from Galway city and at least to explore the possibility of developing the project the group has in mind.

Some 22,000 citizens in Galway have already said they favour some sort of light rail system in the city. I believe the system now being talked about is the Coventry system. This is not a heavy rail system such as the Luas but a very light rail system. The route could run from the airport at Carnmore, into the city and right through to Barna, feeding all of the satellite settlements around the city such as Mervue, Ballybane, Renmore, Salthill, Knocknacarra and Barna. We have to move away from heavy vehicles with diesel engines and to start looking at alternatives. I have spoken to the people involved in the light rail project in Galway and I am quite excited by what they have proposed. Is the Minister willing to meet this group and at least to consider carrying out a feasibility study on the introduction of a light rail system in Galway?