Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Tá mé ag iarraidh ceist a ardú inniu a d'ardaigh mé inné agus brathaim nach raibh mé soiléir go léir san ábhar. I again raise the issue of traffic in Galway city. It is a crucial issue and perhaps it was not understood yesterday. I hope the Leader is not suffering from Dublin-centric thinking since becoming Leader. It is clear to all in the west that the traffic situation in Galway is chaotic. It is a national issue. The reason I asked that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport take it on board was that many of the problems stem from agencies under his auspices co-operating with other agencies. I refer to the National Roads Authority, Bus Éireann, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the airports, Iarnród Éireann and the co-ordination of transport services in and out of the city, whether by rail, air, bus, car, bicycle or pedestrian.

This is a very serious issue. We need to get Galway city moving in order that we can create more employment and allow people to get in and out of the city and not be turned off visiting the city, a matter to which a number of Senators refererred yesterday. It takes two hours to get to Galway from Dublin on an outstanding new motorway but then one is stuck in traffic for one hour trying to get through the city. It is a very serious issue and I ask that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport attends the House to debate it.

Bhí an tAire Gaeltachta istigh cúpla uair ach tá sé tábhachtach go dtiocfadh sé isteach arís mar tá roinnt athruithe tarlaithe le cúpla seachtain anuas. Tá sé fógraithe go mbeidh athbhreithniú á dheanamh ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus tá an chomhlacht MFG imithe agus nílimid cinnte cad a thiocfaidh ina háit. Tá an samhail nua maoinithe ó thaobh maoiniú na n-eagras Gaeilge faoi Fhoras na Gaeilge á athbreithniú arís agus tá plean forfheidhmithe bliana faoin stráitéis 20 bliain foilsithe ag an Roinn agus tá na hoifigigh ag rá go mbeidh plean trí bliana forfheidhmithe don straitéis 20 blian á chur in áit acu. Bheadh sé tráthúil agus go maith dá bhfaighimis seans na rudaí éagsúla seo a phlé mar beidh tionchar mór acu ar shaol na Gaeilge, ar phobal na Gaeltachta agus ar thodhchaí na teanga sa tír seo agus thar lear. Bheadh sé thar barr dá dtiocfadh an tAire isteach go bpléimis na hábhair seo leis.