Transport key driver in new Government Agreement

Following weeks of intense negotiations between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, a Programme for Government was published this week with huge investment promised for transport infrastructure in Galway.

However, the document, which was negotiated by party teams involving three Galway representatives, has been met with mixed views locally – with Galway West TD and Fianna Fáil stalwart Éamon Ó Cuív vowing to oppose the deal, warning that it would not be good for Galway or for the West of Ireland in general.

The formation brings together the two Civil War parties in coalition for the first time and would put Micheál Martin in the Taoiseach’s office next weekend, with Leo Varadkar to return to the role in December 2022.

Included in the draft document, which now must be approved by members of the three respective parties, is a 2:1 ratio for investment into public transport over new roads.

The programme – which was negotiated by teams including Galway TDs Anne Rabbitte (FF) and Hildegarde Naughton (FG), and Senator Pauline O’Reilly (Green) – also commits to a ‘Park and Ride’ service for Galway City and prioritisation of rail projects in Galway.

A BusConnects programme for Galway is also promised, similar to that in Dublin where new bus corridors and integrated public transport continue to be developed.

Other commitments for Galway City and County include ‘consideration’ of the long-overdue report on the Western Rail Corridor; continued funding of the Galway to Dublin Greenway; and to commission an economic evaluation of higher speed rail links between Ireland’s five cities.

Outside transport, the coalition partners have pledged to deliver a new radiation oncology unit in Galway and to re-establish the Galway City Community-Based Alcohol Treatment Service.

A number of Fianna Fáil representatives locally have hit out at the draft programme and declared their intention to vote it down, including Deputy Ó Cuív.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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