Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 298: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will release such funding to Galway City Council as would enable the carrying out of a feasibility study on the provision of light rail commuter services for Galway City. [22712/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Transport 21 sets out the Government's transport capital investment priorities for the ten-year period 2006 to 2015. In developing Transport 21, my Department took account of the National Spatial Strategy, Regional Planning Guidelines and a range of other sectoral and regional policy and planning documents, including the Galway Transportation and Planning Study.

Transport 21 includes a commitment to the provision of a commuter rail service to Galway via Oranmore and an improved bus service, including bus priority measures for Galway City. These improved transportation services for Galway city are to be supported by the settlement strategy including the development of the Ardaun corridor to the east of Galway city, as set out in the Galway Transportation and Planning Study agreed by Galway City and Galway County Councils. That Study does not envisage light rail measures such as those outlined in the Corrib Light Rail submission which was recently sent to my Department.