Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for giving me the opportunity as I am not a member of the committee. I thank him for allowing me to contribute a second or third time.

Mr. Fitzgerald is correct. There is a lot of frustration in Galway regarding this project. We, as public representatives, are getting it constantly. Practically not a week goes by in Galway but there is some comment on the radio or something about a meeting being held regarding this project, and we are still no further on.

I remember - Deputy Ó Cuív was involved in this - we secured funding a number of years ago to get a pedestrian bridge in Oughterard so that the children from one end of the village could cross the Owenriff river to get where all the schools are on the other side and the National Parks and Wildlife Service objected on the grounds that the shadow from the bridge would affect the freshwater pearl mussel, and the funding had to be sent back. Then one has to stand up in front of a meeting and explain to parents who are trying to get their children to school safely that the fresh water pearl mussel is more important. In 1974, when they built the new bridge in Oughterard, they used dynamite to blow the rock out of the river. I presume one or two freshwater pearl mussels flew out with it, but they survived. We all have a responsibility to protect the environment and we all play our role in that as a Oireachtas Members, but we have a responsibility also as Oireachtas Members to provide better roads for those who use them. A total of 187 people were killed on the roads last year. The number has already risen this year. We have a responsibility to ensure we put a proper road in place. We can put a man on the moon and bring him back but we cannot build a bit of a road between Oughterard and Clifden. Mr. Fitzgerald should try to explain that to the public. What is so important about the freshwater pearl mussel?

I remember, as a boy, going out to Ballyconneely. I was only six or seven, and we were practically on a dirt track. In all fairness to various Governments down through the years, significant upgrades have been made to that road but the freshwater pearl mussel has still survived. When that work was done the National Parks and Wildlife Service did not have any role, but with all these new rules and regulations, and when one hears President-elect Donald Trump turning his back on Doonbeg because of Europe and these rules and regulations that have come down on top of them, what kind of signal does that send out about investment in Ireland? We are too strict in implementing these rules. There should be a little bit of leeway on this. We had spent €14 million of that €19 million on the proposal to build a new ring road around Galway city. That was knocked down because of the bog cotton and the limestone pavement. One would have been better if we had put that money into a carpark and burnt it.

We are going through a process in Galway city to build a new N6 road project. What consultation has taken place between the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Arup and Galway County Council on this project and will there be problems regarding that project as well? I would like Mr. Fitzgerald to comment on that.

Returning to the N59, my colleague, Senator Ó Clochartaigh, touched on the fact that eight method statements were submitted by the local authority and, as Mr. Fitzgerald stated, only two minor ones were approved. Mr. Fitzgerald stated he went down and met the local authorities. I presume these method statements are being put together by consultants who are being paid and, as Deputy Ó Cuív stated, the meter is running and the cost is rising. Has Mr. Fitzgerald met the consultants? Have the local authority, the consultants and the Department sat down around a table to try and find a solution to this?

Finally, in his conclusion, Mr. Fitzgerald stated, "We believe that by complying with national and European laws, the project should avoid falling foul of legal challenge." Can he outline who will take the legal challenge, on what grounds this legal challenge could be taken and who would instigate this legal challenge?