Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Just to take the Minister up on that last point that the NTA is now working on park-and-ride, I had the privilege of being mayor of Galway for 2004 to 2005. Then we fought a determined battle against management to include park-and-ride in our city development plan. However, city management did not think it was appropriate. We put it in and it remained as an objective. Fifteen years later, we still have no park-and-ride in Galway. I am not sure where the NTA is at with regard to that. Park-and-ride has simply never been rolled out in Galway. I have watched my beautiful city choke with traffic congestion. We have got a break from that over the past few months but in a most tragic way. There was absolutely no need for the build-up of traffic congestion in Galway. While I blame some councillors and local authority management, I also blame the Department and the Government which fostered a programme of more roads and more traffic.

I welcome the Minister’s speech and thank him for it. I wish him the best in whatever he will do next. The details of his speech, however, and the moneys spent always have to be put in context, namely, that of a climate emergency. We have the tiniest window of opportunity to do something and we simply have no choice. The children of this country and the world have forced us to do that and declare a climate emergency, along with six Bills and obligations under international conventions.

In 2018 I stood for nine weeks on the streets of Galway collecting 24,000 signatures requesting the Minister to carry out a feasibility study on light rail in Galway. I am not foolish enough to think that 24,000 people endorsed that. However, what they did endorse was the call for a feasibility study. That never happened. Since then, we have declared a climate emergency, introduced a national plan and a framework, all committed to sustainable development. Within that sustainable development, five cities have been picked out, one of them Galway, and the population is to grow by 50%. Between climate change and the growth planned for the city, the case for at least a feasibility study for light rail is overwhelming.

At some stage tonight the Minister spoke about an insatiable appetite for greenways and how he could not possibly satisfy it. Perhaps it was an unfortunate choice of words and it might be the time of night but I believe we could not possibly have enough greenways.

Galway distinguishes itself by doing everything right on the map and the city development plan but we have no greenway. There is no greenway to Oughterard or to Barna. When I left the council in February 2016, consultants were employed to look at it, and it was not progressed. Covid-19 has shown us the way forward in Galway. We have seen a substantial increase in the number of cyclists and the removal of parking on the Prom. It has shown what is possible. That should become a permanent feature not just of Galway, but of all cities that want to be smart and green and show the way. There is an onus on us to do that. I worry when I hear about the push for electric vehicles. I do not mind looking at electric vehicles but I think that in itself will become unsustainable. Deputy Catherine Murphy made the point that we will have smart traffic jams and I agree with her. We need an integrated public transport system. I am regrettably driving at the moment. I normally take the bus. Sometimes I take the train. I cycle in Galway. I know the transport system from every angle. While on that matter, I want to mention the coach and bus service, which has made representations to all of us. It has been out of action since mid-March. It has made specific requests. If the Minister gets a chance, will he address the bus and coach service?

Tourism has not been mentioned. It is difficult to mention everything. The small to medium enterprises in tourism have suffered, like other small to medium enterprises. We receive representations. Grants do not exist even though the word "grant" has been used. They tell us the terms and conditions surrounding the loans are too onerous. I come from a city, Galway. A question was also asked about when the Aran Islands will open, as well as questions about places such as Kilmaine and Shrule. There is a substantial range and we need properly targeted supports.

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