Mr. Kevin Kelly:

It stated that it was only being refused on traffic safety grounds, although there was a left-hand turn in, left-hand turn out scenario. There are standards for every development, as well as land ownership and environmental issues.

It takes time to get those projects through and the outcome is uncertain.

In respect of issues of rail to some of the other towns, there are good examples of collaboration with Irish Rail. For example, there is the development of the Garraun rail station in conjunction with Galway County Council with regard to the parking area required for it. There are a number of locations in the county with rail stations, including villages like Ardrahan, Craughwell and Athenry. Looking to the future, there are deficiencies with respect to wastewater treatment facilities at all those locations. Despite the fact that the rail services could take some pressure from the city, they will be unable to do so without the availability of services.

With the ring road, the approach has been to try to develop an overall solution both in terms of the road and public transport elements. If a piece was taken out, it would become a separate project and all the processes would have to be gone through separately. At the end, one would probably be accused of project-splitting.