Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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101. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made on the roll-out of light rail for Galway, following the publication of the feasibility study on 30 October 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9456/25]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire agus leis an Aire Stáit nua. Guím gach rath orthu ina róil nua. Baineann mo cheist go sonrach le córas iarnróid éadroim do chathair na Gaillimhe. Cén dul chun cinn atá déanta? I congratulate the new Minister and Minister of State and I wish them the best of luck. My specific question is about what progress has been made relating to the roll-out of light rail in Galway, as one essential part of the solution to traffic congestion in Galway.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for her kind words. As she is aware the National Transport Authority published a light rail feasibility study for Galway last October for information. The study was prepared as part of a mode-specific analysis undertaken for the development of the Galway metropolitan area transport strategy, which the NTA is developing, in conjunction with Galway City Council and Galway County Council. A strategic roads feasibility study is also being undertaken. The findings from both studies will be used to inform the development of a new multi-modal strategy, alongside recommendations for active travel, bus services, rail, road and demand management measures.

The light rail feasibility study has shown that there could, under the right conditions, be a case for developing a light rail system for Galway. It should be noted that any future rail project in Galway will only be advanced subject to funding and securing relevant Government approval under the infrastructure guidelines. The feasibility study is not intended to specifically identify a preferred alignment of a light rail corridor in Galway. Instead, it explores key issues and potential feasibility. Route options will need to be explored in more detail during any subsequent process of options assessment and development. The feasibility study will form part of the evidence base used as an input into the development of the new Galway metropolitan area transport strategy, which will be subject to a full environmental analysis and a public consultation process in due course. Implementation of any recommendations identified in the new strategy will be subject to the availability of funding as might be available under the relevant national development plan.

This plan-led, long-term and multi-modal approach to transport infrastructure delivery is in line with international best practice. It is important we consider a metropolitan area's transport requirements in the round rather than through the narrow prism of one specific mode. I accept what the Deputy's question asked and I look forward to working with her to improve transport in Galway.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I think the Minster of State would agree that transport could not get any worse in Galway with traffic congestion.

I welcome that there is going to be a plan, but I will tell the Minister of State about my experience. The transport plan that became law in 2016 was already dated and outmoded in light of the increase in the population, the promised increase in the population and our obligations under climate change legislation. With a small team on the streets of Galway - we did not take one signature online - I gathered 24,000 signatures in 2018 from people crying out for a feasibility study. That was eventually done by the previous Government. I welcomed that. It was finally published and it indicated that this was eminently doable. While it will not be reached tonight, I have a question further down the question paper on park-and-ride facilities. The sustainable solutions in Galway have never been rolled out. A park-and-ride facility still remains up in the clouds even though it was enshrined in the city development plan on 1 February 20 years ago. Will the Minister of State give me some dates in respect of the promised metropolitan area plan?

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I understand the Deputy's frustration when she talks about this particular problem we have in Galway. I hope we will be able to find solutions. One of the frustrations is that we spend a great deal of time on strategies and plans when we need to spend a little bit more time on implementation so that we can actually see the improvements reaching people on the ground. The light rail feasibility study was published for information last October. It was prepared by experts in international transport. It is a study for information but also to inform planners on the best way forward. However, we have to wait for the roads strategy feasibility study to be completed as well. As we all know, the outer ring road project will be going back to An Bord Pleanála with the further information from Galway County Council. I expect that to happen next month or the month after. That will take another year. There is great frustration among those who come to Galway or work there. It is important that we get some measures in place to try to help.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Minister of State knows my views on the N6 project. There are sustainable solutions to the traffic congestion in Galway. We are under an obligation. The Minister of State may have listened to the radio interview this morning regarding the billions we are going to pay in fines for failure to comply with our obligations. Galway is one of five cities that is destined to grow. We have no park-and-ride facilities even though it was put into the city development plan and became law on 1 February 2005. I have to keep repeating this because the people of Galway, through the councillors, put forward suggestions but they were never implemented. You have to ask yourself why this park-and-ride proposal was never implemented over those 20 years. I know exactly how long the light rail feasibility study took. I thank the Minister of State for mentioning it and looking on it as a possibility. It has taken a very long time. The Minister of State is behind the western rail corridor and I fully support him on that. These are all sustainable solutions that will allow us to comply with our climate obligations.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Deputy is right. I mentioned earlier that rail infrastructure in Galway is being developed with the development of Ceannt Station and the granting of planning permission for the passing loop at Oranmore. It is important that we create better connectivity into the city but also that we create a city in which you can move around in comfort. On the issue of the park-and-ride facilities that were planned and approved by councillors, I will check that out. I will be meeting with the executive in both the city and county in the coming weeks to see exactly where we are as regards implementation.