Transport

I believe that transport is key to the development of the West of Ireland. Living on an island on the west coast of Europe, access to and from our region is of vital importance to the economic and social prosperity of the region.

I am delighted that the new road from Dublin to Galway will open on the 4th January next. I will continue to work to ensure that the difficulties that have arisen in relation to the Galway City Bypass are overcome and that this progresses as speedily as possible. I will also continue to work for the upgrade of the N59 from end to end as well as the development of the new road along the coast from Na Forbacha to Scríb.

I have for many years been an advocate of the use of existing railway lines for the provision of commuter services. I have been very involved in the development of the Western Rail Corridor and am delighted that the section from Ennis to Athenry facilitating train services from Limerick to Galway will reopen in December 2009. In Transport21, there is a firm commitment for the reopening of the Athenry to Tuam section by 2011 and I have been given an undertaking by the Chairman of Iarnród Éireann that the survey work on this section of line will commence immediately after the reopening of the Athenry to Ennis line.

In relation to airport development, I believe that Shannon, Galway and Knock airports have a vital role to play in the development of our region and I will continue to work to ensure that these airports develop so that they can provide ever better services to people of the West.

The Development of Galway City

In the past, cities tended to grow outwards. Galway was no exception. However, there is now a very attractive possibility of regeneration right in the core of Galway in the docks area that has been recently vacated by the oil companies. A number of years ago, I set up a vision group in Galway chaired by John Killeen to look at the possible uses of the docks areas of Galway for landmark development of a commercial, residential, social and cultural nature so that Galway City could grow in its heart adjacent to both the bus services and the railway line. This vision also included the transformation of the inner dock into a haven for marine leisure. The recent Volvo Ocean Race gave some indication of what could be achieved for this area, making it a huge addition to the City Centre and ensuring that many, many businesses would be attracted back to the core of the City. I look forward to working with all the partners to realise this dream and to make the Galway docks area a mecca of culture and leisure. I believe that we should ensure that instead of turning its back to the sea, the new Galway City will face the sea.

Culture

Galway has a unique culture, but we cannot rest on our laurels and we must build for the future. I will continue to work with Macnas towards the development of a new facility and also look forward to the development of the Latin Quarter in Galway City and also the Art House Cinema.

Galway is the most "Irish" of Irish cities with the Irish language heard on the streets every day. I will work with Conradh na Gaeilge and An Taibhdhearc and the City Council to provide a new Gaeláras, which can become a focus for all things Irish in the city. I envisage this as a cultural centre, which will include a restaurant, a Irish language crèche, meeting rooms, a theatre and many other facilities. Ideally, all of the Irish language organisations operating from the city would relocate in this new centre, giving critical mass to the Irish language in the city and strengthening the claim of the city to be a true Cathair Dhátheangach.

Such a development would be in line with the vision that will form the 20 Year Strategy for the Gaeltacht and the Irish language and would help strengthen the profile of the language in the city where much has already been achieved in recent years.