Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The NTA is leading the development and roll-out of strategic park-and-ride sites nationwide through the park-and-ride development office.

The NTA established the park-and-ride development office in February 2020, which had been included as an action in the climate action plan 2019. The function of the park-and-ride development office is to enable the delivery of park-and-ride sites by the NTA in collaboration with local authorities and transport operators such as larnród Éireann across the country. Through the park-and-ride development office, full-time specialist resources are now employed on such projects.

The park-and-ride development office has developed a park-and-ride strategy for Galway. That park-and-ride strategy envisages the development of up to five bus-based strategic park-and-ride sites, three for initial development and two for future development, and the expansion of rail-based park and ride at Oranmore station.

Work by the park-and-ride development office is ongoing in relation to proposed bus-based park-and-ride sites on the N6 at the junction 19 Oranmore exit and the N83 just north of Claregalway. Planning for enhanced rail infrastructure to facilitate the expansion of rail-based park and ride at Oranmore station is separately being undertaken by Iarnród Éireann in conjunction with the NTA. Work on the remaining proposed sites will commence at a future date as they are highly dependent upon the delivery of bus priority along the relevant connecting corridors. Overall I welcome these developments and look forward to the projects progressing as the provision of park and ride at strategic locations can help to reduce the distances travelled by car with a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions and congestion and improved road safety.

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