Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am a bit out of my jurisdiction when one is talking about Galway. I know that a lot of what is happening there is happening and has happened in relation to the Macroom bypass and other infrastructural projects in County Kerry.

Surely the people who pay motor tax, and that is the people of Galway, and west Galway in this case, are entitled to a proper safe road when going back and forth in their daily lives. I cannot understand the reason that the many bodies who are charged with looking after the interests of people cannot sort out the provision of a road for the people. I am referring to bodies such as An Bord Pleanála, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the local authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, and Inland Fisheries Ireland. Should it not be the business of the local authority, Galway County Council, TII or the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to sort out how best the road could be built, first for the safety of the people and as a secondary consideration to the best of their ability to mind the pearl mussel or any other species of importance. Surely it should be left up to the people who are building the road to deal with secondary considerations.

I have built roads within 30 metres of the pearl mussel and we did not damage the species. I know all about filtration and silt ponds and all that goes with dealing with sensitive areas in dry weather. That should not be the business of the National Parks and Wildlife Service at all, it should be the business of the people building the road. The Department should keep its nose out of it. I welcome the representatives from the National Parks and Wildlife Services, but I cannot see it has a role to play in the building of the road. It should be up to the people who are doing it, such as the local authority, to deal with matters arising. There is a proper method of building the road and if they do not comply with that, it is the role of the NPWS to get stuck into them if they do damage to the pearl water mussel or to any other species. Once they have followed the plan to the best of their ability, it should not be the business of the NPWS to focus on the method statement or to see how they would do the work. There is a way to proceed and we should let them at it. If they do not comply, that is the time to step in. It should be the body that is building the road that must comply with method statements. It is a matter between them and the contractor.

As Deputy Grealish states, there is a road already. It is not interfering with the pearl water mussel. The people in Europe had no say in it. The people did their best and had to provide a road to get to their homes, villages and towns. They need to be able to go to Galway city. People always did their best.

Whether we realise it or not, the landowners and people living in an area, take pride in their place and do not try to damage it by just wanting to live in the place. They always take pride in their place. One can see evidence of that in all local communities, be it the Tidy Towns committee or other community development organisations. People have pride in their place. I am asking the witnesses to stay out of it and let the people who are building the road do the work but have somebody checking that the work is being done according to plans. As a nation we should have one objective, namely, the road must be built because the people need a road that is built to a standard to prevent fatalities. I appeal that they be allowed to go ahead with this project.

Let me outline what will happen if this project is held up. The Macroom bypass was of significant importance to the people of County Kerry. The project was held up when we had money by people protecting a snail. Now we do not have money and we have our hand out and the objectors have gone to ground. Now we cannot get the money to build the road. That is what will happen in this case as well.