Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue. Some months ago, a €6 million package to do away with roundabouts in Galway was announced, but there was little consultation at the time. I learned much more about the money and the work to be done when I attended a meeting of the joint policing committees of the Galway city and county councils last Monday. I hope the Minister of State will learn about the proposals in respect of Galway. While the idea of getting rid of roundabouts is fine, as are the proposals to get rid of traffic lights and signalling, we should be provided with further details and have more consultation.

Comparisons will be made with Dublin city. The principle is the same, but a comparison in this respect is difficult. There are great opportunities for public transport in Galway as part of the package of measures to be introduced. For example, the provision of extra bus lanes and the role of private buses, matters under the Minister of State's responsibility, must play important parts in the new scheme to get rid of roundabouts.

I am impressed by the frequency of buses in Dublin and the fact that information can be found at bus stops and bus shelters. These elements would be welcome in any town or city.

The Galway public transport feasibility study was funded by the then Department of Transport in 2009 to determine the potential of introducing new transport modes, including bus rapid transit, light rail transit and associated park-and-ride facilities. At last Monday's meeting of the joint policing committees, many references were made to these issues as well to the Galway outer city bypass, the western rail corridor and the Gort-Tuam road. There have been many meetings concerning the Galway public bike scheme. The Dublin bicycle rental scheme has been successful. Studies have been carried out on the number of people using bicycles. In particular, the student populations of Galway's two third level institutions - National University of Ireland, Galway, NUIG, and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, GMIT - use bicycles to attend lectures.

I hope the Minister of State will take the proposals made by the city and county councils on board and that we can make progress in developing public transport and alternative transport in the county and city.

See this speech in context