Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)

That would be the one piece that I would really like to see happen.

There is no doubt that we are completely congested at this stage. I will share the following little anecdote with the Minister. I love it when Ministers come to Galway We have to go into the university hospital to meet them and then they ask me for the quickest way to get out to another part of the city. There is nothing like putting them across the Quincentenary Bridge to get them caught for at least an hour to experience what every other person living in the city is experiencing on a daily basis. Anything the Minister can do in this space would be welcome.

It is regrettable that it is stifling from an economic growth point of view. I worry about that because we have fantastic hospitals and universities but it is a turn-off to go into the city. It is a turn-off for people to bring in the CEOs of their companies. While they have great transport coming in, either to Shannon Airport or Ireland West Airport Knock, the trouble is they might meet them in a hotel in a surrounding area or try to bring them in earlier in the morning or later in the evening to visit their sites because of the congestion. Whatever the Minister and his Department and officials can do would be greatly welcome.

I will lend my voice in support of the western rail corridor. I will not rehash it, but it needs to happen. Covid taught us one thing, namely, that what we need to do is reinvest in the rail. This is definitely the case as regards the connection from Claremorris into Athenry. That connection is there and ready. It is unfortunate that a big bridge will need to be constructed at Ballyglunin but I have no doubt that the Minister's team is looking at this as part of the report that will come back to him.

The part of east Galway that I come from does not have BusConnects, airports or much rail. I depend on good road infrastructure and the Local Link. Local Link makes a significant difference a significant difference for the young people of the area going to college in Limerick, Athlone or Galway. It was great to get the news yesterday of the Local Link connection from Loughrea to Ballinasloe and straight on to Athlone. That gives choice to people. That service runs four times a day. That is the sort of service that is needed. Where children decide they are doing third level, they have choice. They can continue to stay at home. It is not only that, though. It also provides flexibility. They do not need to buy that first car straightaway only to get down to Limerick or Athlone.

When we talk about good roads, the N65 leads into Portumna but we have been on traffic lights at Heathlawn for the past 12 months because we are waiting for the TII to draw up a little bit of a design to put into a proposal. We need consultation to move that project along.

I compliment the Minister on the positivity of his opening contribution as regards. We also need to tell the TII to stop making objections. Where the local authority grants planning permission to a young farmer on the road to Kinvara where he or she is developing the business but the TII will not allow the farmer to build a house on his or her land with his or her own gate, that is wrong. The farmer is looking to see what the next steps after the local authority gives permission only for the TII to object.

Overall, the officials handling Ceannt Station and the people on the ground in Local Link are doing phenomenal work in supporting people who sometimes feel forgotten. They are not forgotten at this stage.