Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the new chairman of the NTA. I always put on record, when we speak to newly appointed chairs, the point that it is a complete waste of time for them to come into us because, at the end of the day, we have no authority whatsoever over their appointments. I thank Mr. Strachan for taking the time to come in to set out his stall.

I will raise two issues that come across my table quite a lot. I am from the city of Galway. There has been a long campaign to get very light rail into Galway. There have been promises and all sorts of things, but I would dearly love Mr. Strachan to give some sort of commitment that he will at least have his board look at the possibility of a proper feasibility study that would consider the benefits of very light rail, the costings thereof, and whether it is something that would resolve many of the problems in Galway. The ring road is a contentious issue there. Most people I know wish the authorities would just get on with it and get it in there. It is not a great city for buses. It is a medieval city in many ways, with narrow streets, and is not really bus friendly. A bus into the city might work but the light rail proposal has serious merit.

The Leas-Chathaoirleach and I both live on the green line Luas that goes in and out of town. It is now massively congested in the morning any time from about 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. That is before an additional approximately 1,500 to 2,000 apartments open in that geographical area. Is any plan in place for that? I appreciate the Leas-Chathaoirleach letting me in on that.