Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

​I thank Deputy Connolly for the question.

My Department had no input into the preparation of the Galway transport strategy. While we would be supportive of the objectives contained in the strategy to promote more sustainable forms of transport for Galway, the development of the strategy is a matter for the local authorities concerned and we have no direct role in the matter. However, the Deputy may recall from my response to a previous question on 14 June that the National Transport Authority, NTA, which is one of the agencies under my aegis, assisted Galway City Council and Galway County Council in the development of their transport strategy for the city. The NTA administers the regional cities programme for investment in public transport infrastructure in the regional cities of Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. It also has responsibility for securing the provision of public transport passenger services throughout the country and so it has a keen interest in the development of transport strategies in the regional cities.

The Galway transport strategy sets out a series of actions and measures covering infrastructural, operational and policy elements to be implemented in Galway over the next 20 years and sets out a framework to deliver the projects in a phased manner. I am told the draft strategy was on public display until 11 July for public consultation and that that process is now complete. The draft strategy, appendices and strategic environmental assessment-Natura impact report were available on the Galway City and County Council websites as part of the public consultation process. I understand that it is proposed to incorporate the transport strategy into the draft Galway City Development Plan 2017-2023 and this is also a matter for the city council.

I am informed that the issue of light rail had been considered in the preparation of the draft strategy but it was concluded that there is insufficient demand to justify the significant additional cost of developing a light rail system, so bus transport will provide the backbone of the public transport network under the strategy.

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