Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the clarification on the Cappagh site. It is a priority because originally there was no plan coming from that side. I am glad to hear that. Although it is small, and much smaller than the other ones, it is also publicly owned.

I despair at the lack of action in relation to this. I keep telling the Minister that it is 20 years since we put the objectives in. Five or more years ago, 24,000 people signed a petition looking for a feasibility study for light rail and here we are, in 2024, still waiting on that feasibility study. I heard my colleague behind me refer to the outer bypass. It was never going anywhere. My difficulty with the outer by-pass was the failure to do other parallel changes to Galway city. We have a city that at peak times is absolutely choked with traffic. It has been allowed to get worse.

We need urgent action in relation to park and ride for people coming in from Connemara. I welcome the small site. I would hope that it would be top, not bottom, of the list for the NTA now. Obviously, the other two sites, which are very big sites, are also very welcome.

I am over time. Considering the 20-year background, when will we see park and ride operating?

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