Chuir mise ceist Dála scríofa síos le haghaidh freagra ar 10 Bealtaine i nGaeilge agus ní bhfuair mé freagra i nGaeilge fós ar an gceist sin. B’fhéidir go dtógfaidh an tAire an cheist sin anois. Ceist Uimh. 875 a bhí ann agus bhí sí curtha ag an Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara.

The programme for Government commits to implementing the Galway transport strategy, which was published as recently as 2016. My understanding is that the Minister has organised a review of this strategy before it is even implemented. First, can the Minister outline why it was imperative that we would have a review of a strategy that was of recent gestation? Second, is the implementation of the existing strategy put on hold while we review this strategy and when will the review be completed?

Those reviews are an ordinary statutory process. For example, we have just come through a review in Dublin. Those strategies tend to be reviewed every four years. That is a normal occurrence and it does not put on hold any existing plans within existing strategy. It is a normal process of assessing the latest information, including the census and other data material. I was in Galway recently to meet the local county council and city council. There is a recognition that of all our five cities, Galway is the one with the greatest transport problems and the greatest urgency. One of the things I said to Galway City Council was that it needs to come back on this and that we need acceleration projects that we can deliver in the next three years.

Whatever about the big projects and long-term futures, the here and now is what is important to Galway. Advancing such things as BusConnects, active travel and other projects which we can deliver in a three-year time period is what I am keen to really push.