Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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32. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the provision of a light rail system for Galway in view of climate change mitigation commitments; the key objectives of the national planning framework; the cost-benefit analysis undertaken in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49466/17]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I would like to take reassurance that not only has the Minister plans, but that he has seriously ambitious and imaginative plans in respect of public transport and to take cars off the road. In that context I ask the Minister about this matter.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I thank Deputy Connolly for her question. I am sure that the Deputy is aware that the transport strategy for Galway city was prepared by the National Transport Authority in partnership with Galway City Council and Galway County Council in 2016. The strategy set out an overall framework for the development of transport infrastructure and services in Galway city and its environs over a 20 year period. It was included in the new city development plan which was adopted by the city council and came into force in January 2017.

I understand that the issue of light rail was considered in the preparation of the transport strategy for Galway city, where it was concluded that there is insufficient demand to justify the significant additional cost of developing a light rail system and that bus-based public transport represents the most appropriate system for Galway over the period considered in this transport strategy. Accordingly, light rail was not taken forward for economic appraisal in the context of a cost-benefit analysis for this mode of transport. The transport strategy for Galway city also concluded that a high-quality bus-based public transport service will cater for the forecasted passenger demand and will provide significant flexibility in terms of network options and the ability to integrate with other modes. The implementation of this strategy is primarily a matter for the local authority to pursue.

The national planning framework is being developed at present under the leadership of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

The framework is a long-term strategic planning framework which will guide national, regional and local planning and investment decisions over the period to 2040. In the context of the draft national planning framework and key future growth enablers for Galway, the plan recognises the need for provision of a citywide public transport network with enhanced accessibility between existing and proposed residential areas and the city centre and third level institutions and the employment areas to the east of the city. The current transport strategy for Galway city and background supporting analysis aligns to this need with its successors being guided by the national planning framework. I am conscious, in light in particular of the representations made to me not only by Deputy Connolly but other Deputies from Galway, that Galway is a microcosm of what is happening in other areas and that it is suffering in the area of traffic. I intend to regard it is a priority and to ensure that, as implied by the Deputy, it is not omitted from any of the schemes we are introducing to improve traffic and public transport nationwide.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for clarifying that the reason there is no light rail in Galway is, officially, insufficient demand and that no economic or cost appraisal has ever been carried out in this regard. I ask the Minister to step outside his script and to revert to his response to an earlier question in which he spoke about seriously ambitious plans and imagination to lift cars off our roads.

I welcome the Minister's comment that Galway is a microcosm. Galway has a population of 80,000 and is one of the five cities destined to grow to a population of up to 120,000. In the words of Conor Faughnan, AA Ireland's director of consumer affairs, traffic congestion problems in a modestly sized city like Galway are embarrassingly bad. He has also spoken of the provision of light rail being an important part of the solution. Some 176 cities throughout Europe have embraced light rail or tram services. I ask the Minister to go back to his imagination and determination and to comment on the provision of a light rail service as the most sustainable solution to traffic congestion in Galway, while allowing us to comply with our commitments under climate change.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I take the Deputy's point about imagination and ambition. The problem is that we do not have money. Light rail was found to be too ambitious in terms of a lack of market demand for it. If there is a business case for it, we will look at the issue again. The decision was made that there was not a good business case for light rail at the time. There is definitely an attempt to address the issues of Galway and to do so in the context of the national planning framework. The framework sets out the key future growth enablers for Galway in the area of public transport as follows: progressing the sustainable development of new greenfield areas for housing; development of supports for public transport and infrastructure; improving access and sustainable transport links through integration with existing employment areas to the east of Galway city and provision of citywide public transport network with enhanced accessibility between the existing and proposed residential areas and the city centre.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Minister started well but then reverted to his script. I refer the Minister to the position of management in Galway that there is no demand for park-and-ride facilities either, notwithstanding that the elected members included as an objective in the city development plan 2005 the provision of such facilities. Management believe we must wait for demand. I am asking Deputy Ross, as Minister with responsibility for this area, and as a man with imagination and determination, to consider the provision of light rail for Galway as the most imaginative and sustainable solution to the traffic mess there, in addition to park-and-ride facilities and an integrated public transport system. Unless he does this, he will be only paying lip-service to sustainable development, which is enshrined in the draft national planning framework, and lip-service to our commitments to reduce emissions and take cars off our roads.

Earlier, the Minister forcibly told a Deputy that he wants to take cars off the roads. We have stale male - I use those words advisedly - in respect of leadership in Galway in terms of a solution. What we need is an imaginative green way forward that will put Galway on the map and on a level with all other European cities, some of them of equal size.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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If the Deputy can make a fresh case for light rail which makes economical commercial sense I will be very happy to discuss it with her. As the Deputy is aware, we have limited funds. If she can make a case that is convincing and stands up to scrutiny I will be delighted to review it with her.

On the budget, regional cities and an environmentally-friendly solution, the Deputy knows the direction in which we are going. We are doing real things in this area. We do have ambition and we are putting it into effect. Our plans are not Dublin-centric. Budget 2018 provided a four-year capital envelope for public transport of more than €2.7 billion to 2021. This allows an investment of over €110 million over the next four years in cycling and walking infrastructure not only in the Dublin area but in Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford as well. Sustainable urban transport is the way forward in all of the cities of Ireland.

Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Members who go over time are not giving other Members an opportunity to have their questions answered. I must ask Members to stick to the time allocated.