Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach's comment that a master plan is necessary. It is necessary for the Government to take a hands-on approach because Galway City Council has not done that.

I welcome compact, urban growth that is planned in a sustainable way. Within that paradigm, a feasibility study for light rail is needed. The city is destined to increase its population by more than 50%.

On the LDA, let me tell the Taoiseach what it states in its presentation. I know he is extremely busy but he might take the trouble to read it. It states:

Residential Apartments [No. Why?]

Build to sell: not viable given the construction costs and end use values

Residential Apartments

Build to Rent: not viable yet ...

It is not viable yet because the rents are astronomically high in Galway so that land will be used to build a hotel, student accommodation that can be rented out at high rates during the summer, and many other buildings besides, plus retention of car parking spaces in a city that needs to be climate-proofed.

I am using the few minutes available to me to appeal to the Taoiseach to take Galway as an example to implement the climate action plan if he is seriously interested. It is crying out for a sustainable plan. We need light rail and sustainable development in the city.

There is no reason to have a housing or accommodation problem. There is Ceannt Station, the Dyke Road site, the harbour and over 100 acres of land between the city and county councils at the old airport site and more land besides, yet we have a housing crisis in Galway because each is developing its own plan.

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