Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue. Some months ago, a €6 million package to do away with roundabouts in Galway was announced, but there was little consultation at the time. I learned much more about the money and the work to be done when I attended a meeting of the joint policing committees of the Galway city and county councils last Monday. I hope the Minister of State will learn about the proposals in respect of Galway. While the idea of getting rid of roundabouts is fine, as are the proposals to get rid of traffic lights and signalling, we should be provided with further details and have more consultation.

Comparisons will be made with Dublin city. The principle is the same, but a comparison in this respect is difficult. There are great opportunities for public transport in Galway as part of the package of measures to be introduced. For example, the provision of extra bus lanes and the role of private buses, matters under the Minister of State's responsibility, must play important parts in the new scheme to get rid of roundabouts.

I am impressed by the frequency of buses in Dublin and the fact that information can be found at bus stops and bus shelters. These elements would be welcome in any town or city.

The Galway public transport feasibility study was funded by the then Department of Transport in 2009 to determine the potential of introducing new transport modes, including bus rapid transit, light rail transit and associated park-and-ride facilities. At last Monday's meeting of the joint policing committees, many references were made to these issues as well to the Galway outer city bypass, the western rail corridor and the Gort-Tuam road. There have been many meetings concerning the Galway public bike scheme. The Dublin bicycle rental scheme has been successful. Studies have been carried out on the number of people using bicycles. In particular, the student populations of Galway's two third level institutions - National University of Ireland, Galway, NUIG, and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, GMIT - use bicycles to attend lectures.

I hope the Minister of State will take the proposals made by the city and county councils on board and that we can make progress in developing public transport and alternative transport in the county and city.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address this issue in the House. The Department has been providing funds to local authorities for bus priority green routes and park and ride measures in the four regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford for a number of years. This programme is now being managed by the National Transport Authority, NTA, on behalf of the Department. It is a matter for the local authorities in each city to prioritise projects and apply for funding each year.

As the Deputy stated, since 2007 funding of approximately €6 million has been provided by the Department for two green routes in Galway city, one on the Dublin Road and the other on Bóthar Uí Eithir and Forster Street and for the Claregalway quality bus corridor, QBC, in County Galway. These are now fully operational.

In addition €2.3 million has been allocated to Galway City Council in 2011 under this programme to advance the Seamus Quirke Road bus corridor scheme and part-fund the Galway transportation unit. This will be the first QBC west of the Corrib in the city. Work on this scheme commenced in late 2010 and Galway City Council expect it will be completed by the end of this year. It will be of great benefit to commuters in Knocknacarra, Barna and other areas on the western side of Galway city, which I know quite well.

As part of the Department's smarter travel funding programme, funds were provided for a greenway walking and cycle route in Galway city. The Fisheries Field project is situated in the heart of Galway city and will revitalise a former under-utilised canal towpath, providing the missing link in a looped greenway of the city centre along its waterways. The greenway will link NUI Galway's internal greenways to the city centre.

With regard to the feasibility study mentioned by the Deputy, in March 2010, Galway City Council published a report entitled Galway Public Transport Feasibility Study. This report set out an analysis of transport issues in Galway city and proposed an overall transport strategy for the city. The recommendations of the study included reconfiguration of the bus network, development of an east-west bus rapid transit system, traffic management measures, transport integration and other measures. The NTA will work with the city council and the other relevant agencies to deliver some of the key components of the transport report, within the funding envelope that will be made available.

The NTA, which is responsible for the licensing of public bus passenger services nationally, recently undertook two reviews of public transport services in Galway city and county. The Galway city area public transport review assessed the existing public transport network, identified gaps in the network and made recommendations for interventions. These recommendations are being considered by the authority for implementation in early 2012. The Dublin to Galway rail service review assessed the service from a customer, operations and business perspective. These recommendations are also being considered by the authority for implementation in early 2012. Much work is being done as a result of both reviews.

With regard to the possible introduction of a bike sharing scheme in Galway city, an initial feasibility study, which I requested on behalf of the Department, was completed earlier this year by the NTA. This report identified that a scheme could be introduced in Galway city but that capital and ongoing operational costs would arise. I am reviewing this matter. I have organised a number of symposiums in the four cities. Two have been completed. I was in Waterford this morning and in Cork earlier in the week. I will be in Galway next Tuesday.

Notwithstanding the current difficult economic situation, I hope to be in a position to retain a budget for public transport measures in the four regional cities for the next five years. I look forward to advancing a number of the projects I outlined for Galway.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. What he said with regard to the symposium to be held next Tuesday is very welcome. He also had positive news on the bike sharing scheme which would be of great benefit in Galway. As the Minister of State probably knows, Galway has good potential for these public transport models and modes. However, we have lost some of our air services from Galway Airport and we cannot afford to lose other forms of transport. Galway railway station is in the centre of the city in Eyre Square, and any development of our rail services would be important because of the great access the location of the station allows.

I hope the Minister of State will keep an eye on the work being done on getting rid of roundabouts. The traffic signals, traffic lights and information generally must be computerised and working so people know exactly the location of traffic blockages in Galway. It is a lovely city but the amount of traffic in the city, particularly in the summer, can create difficulties. There was a particular problem last summer because of roadworks. It would be of great benefit to the tourism industry if we had better traffic signal and traffic light systems in the city.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy for his comments. The symposium on the bike rental scheme will take place in Galway next Tuesday and I will be in attendance. Such a scheme for Galway is very feasible. The symposium intends to deliver on the commitment in the programme for Government and I worked on it when I was in Galway during national cycle week earlier this year. We believe Galway's size would be a natural fit with such a scheme but we must consider how it will be funded. It would be a great endorsement for the city with regard to tourism and would be of benefit given the volume of tourists that visit. I hope it will be a success and this is certainly our aim.

The changes to the roundabouts are an attempt to facilitate more public transport and additional QBCs and greenways. I take on board the Deputy's comments on the two reviews on bus and rail services. I am monitoring progress and I will work with all the agencies involved to facilitate a broader picture for public transport in the city. I keep a very close eye on this and I will continue to monitor it.