Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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64. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the report the National Transport Authority carried out in the past 12 months on traffic congestion and possible solutions thereto in Galway city; if he will provide this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15608/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​I understand from the National Transport Authority (NTA) that they have been assisting Galway City Council and Galway County Council since 2015 on the development of a transport strategy for the city.

This work recently culminated with the publication a draft Galway Transport Strategy (GTS), which is currently on public display until 1st July and the general public has an opportunity to submit their views and comments by that date. A link to the relevant documents can be found on the Galway City and County Council websites. The proposed Strategy was presented to Galway City Council's Transport Strategic Policy Committee on 19 April.

The draft Galway Transport Strategy outlines emerging proposals for revised traffic and public transport networks to better meet the city's needs. Completion of the proposed Galway outer orbital road will support and complement implementation of the draft Strategy.

I understand that the objective is to secure the incorporation of the agreed Strategy into the draft Galway City Development Plan 2017-2023.  This, of course, is a matter for the Council itself.

With regard to funding for public transport for Galway in general, my Department provides funding under the Regional Cities Programme to the NTA for the development of bus lanes, green routes, other bus priority measures and safety measures for pedestrians & cyclists in the regional cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. Overall funding for this programme in 2016 is €13.5m of which Galway has an allocation of €2.14m.