Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. However, I am disappointed. This is my third follow up in relation to this matter. I will continue to follow up on it. During a meeting with the National Transport Authority, which comes under the remit of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, a delegation, of which I was a member, was told that the NTA was preparing a report. I have tried to find that report - I would have thought there would be a written report outlining the reasons light rail was not an appropriate solution - but I cannot find it anywhere. The Minister is also unable to provide me with it today.

I come from a beautiful city, which was recently voted the European Capital of Culture. However, we have a trinity of problems, namely, the hospital, the lack of housing and public transport. Of the public transport options, light rail is the cheapest and will help us to comply with our obligations under the climate strategy and the legislation we passed committing us to low carbon emissions. Instead of that this Government is allowing Galway City Council to go ahead with a 16.5 km road that will cost €30 million per kilometre, at a conservative estimate of €500 million for a cul-de-sac, as happened in respect of the previous outer bypass.

It is a golden opportunity for the Government to lead and for the new Minister and the new politics to look at a green type of transport and a solution that is sustainable and that will show the way in Ireland and Europe. Many small cities in France have light rail systems. Where are the reports from the NTA?

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