I am in an awkward position because the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is much more knowledgeable and has seen the response, but I am reluctant for other Deputies not to have that information. I will happily come back to answer the Deputy's questions in the supplementary reply, if she does not mind me providing the baseline information which will inform other Deputies in the same way as the Deputy is informed.
I share with Deputy Connolly the wish to see much improved active travel and public transport infrastructure and services in Galway. It is a wish I have expressed to members of Galway City Council and Galway County Council in meetings I have had with them in the last year. I think we are on the verge of positive change in the city and surrounding area, a change that will see a more sustainable and liveable Galway emerge. That is why I welcome the announcement two weeks ago of over €60 million of Exchequer funding to improve Ceannt Station, transform the public realm at key city centre sites and deliver improved rail infrastructure at Oranmore which can enable compact development in the area. I am delighted that my Department will assist with this transformation by co-funding works at Ceannt Station, at Oranmore and in relation to the proposed active travel network. These are all positive developments and ones I look forward to seeing completed.
These developments will complement the improvements planned under the Galway transport strategy, which looks to improve significantly active travel and bus infrastructure in the city. The funding announced the other week in relation to the city’s active travel network is hugely positive, while we are now seeing progress in relation to some of the key bus corridors in the city, like the cross-city link and the Dublin Road corridor.
The successful development of bus-based park-and-ride services in the city is linked to the roll-out of BusConnects Galway. It obvious to say that developing park-and-ride sites without developing improved bus infrastructure and services will simply fail. If we are going to get people to make the switch out of the private car, the alternative needs to be fast, predictable and reliable. At the moment I am sorry to say that is just not the case on many of the key corridors into Galway city. Therefore the imperative is to roll-out BusConnects Galway. Alongside that, the local authority will work in co-operation with the National Transport Authority and its park-and-ride development office to identify strategic sites for park-and-ride services. More generally, I think that next year is an appropriate time to look again at the Galway transport strategy and review it, given that 2022 will mark its sixth anniversary.
