Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)

I explained in my initial answer that the light rail feasibility study, as the Deputy knows, had been published. What I am trying to say is how all of that knits together. The road is an important part of it. A simple question that I could ask in countering what the Deputy said, and respecting the position she is taking, is whether the traffic situation in Galway would be better with an outer ring road. It would be, unquestionably. We want to get people out of cars, too. I am a supporter of light rail, heavy rail and public transport. We want to see it and we are seeing rail lines open across the country now and, building on the work of my predecessor, we intend to accelerate that.

I take the Deputy’s point in relation to park and ride. She has, to be fair, raised it on a number of occasions here before. Something I will be cognisant of is how in the interim the situation can be made better. However, I would earnestly hope that should a positive decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála be made then that decision is accepted and we can move on with it.

One of the reasons for the continued delay has been continued objection to the road. Deputy Connolly mentioned the reason the board turned it down. It was for climate reasons and that is fine. Deputy Connolly represents Galway West and knows the city better than me. I have a lot of friends in Galway and I speak to many people. Most people are very supportive of an outer ring road. Deputy Connolly is in Galway every day of the week. I am not there as frequently as she is but I am there quite often. Going down Lough Atalia Road, trying to get through Salthill on the way to south Connemara at any time during the day-----

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