Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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The Athenry ring road is a key infrastructural project for our town. It is fair to say that progress has been quite slow. While parts of the road have been completed, we need to see this full project progressed and delivered. Construction is ongoing at the elbow section at Ballygarraun. That is very welcome and will provide another connection to the schools and the motorway and make it quicker and easier to get around the town. The next section to be completed is the eastern section through Ballydavid. This is key because it will connect the Tuam road to the Monivea road and take a huge amount of traffic out of the town centre. Cars coming in from the likes of Monivea, Attymon and surrounding areas will be able to completely avoid the town. It will make a huge difference in reducing traffic and congestion.

Traffic is becoming a serious issue in the town. The population of Athenry is expected to grow considerably in the years ahead. We have a lot of planning permissions approved for new housing developments. That is, obviously, a very good thing, but it is absolutely critical that we have the infrastructure in place to support and cater for an increased population and increased demands on infrastructure and public services. This means proper educational facilities. Our local schools need increased capacity. In particular, we need to see the new Gaelcampus, which we have been waiting 20 years for. It will mean having improved healthcare services, access to GPs and recreation spaces and amenities.

It is important to say a lot of good work is going on locally through the Athenry town centre plan and other initiatives to enhance our public spaces and the heritage of the town. In particular, we need improved transport services and infrastructure. Our rail services are at capacity and we are still waiting for a new bus service. The eastern section of the ring road is critical to taking traffic out of the town. We now know that the western rail corridor project from Athenry to Tuam is going ahead. It is a very welcome project. The western rail corridor and this section of the ring road will intersect, so it is positive that we now have clarity on the future of the rail line in the context of this project as well, as both of them can and should proceed together. I ask the Minister of State to please provide an update on this project.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy O'Hara for his question. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic with members of the House today on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I understand that the Deputy’s question is in relation to the Athenry relief road in County Galway. As Deputy O’Hara is aware, and as outlined in the 2026 regional and local roads programme, the Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing road network. This network is fundamental in connecting people and places across the country. It facilitates business, education, tourism, healthcare, agriculture and the provision of critical services and activities. It is important to highlight that the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on these roads are funded from county councils' own resources and supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.

Ireland's regional and local road network spans over 96,000 km and it requires significant funding to ensure it remains fit for purpose, safe and resilient. As such, on 17 February 2026, the Minister for Transport announced an Exchequer investment of €718 million for our regional and local roads across the State. This will facilitate an increase in funding allocation of €26 million this year for road protection and renewal works. The pressures on the regional and local road network mean that the primary focus for capital investment under the regional and local road grant programme is on the maintenance and renewal of the network; the implementation of the strategic regional and local road projects identified for development, subject to necessary approvals, in the national development plan; and targeted minor safety schemes across the regional and local road network. Any new road projects that seek State funding are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects proposed by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines and the Department's transport appraisal framework. Given the limited funding available for regional and local road improvement works, it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind.

To date, two of the four sections of the Athenry relief road have been constructed. Funding was provided in 2025 to facilitate the construction of the third section, which will connect the previous two sections already constructed. The contract was awarded in 2025 for the third section following the conclusion of the tender process, and the construction programme is under way. The implementation of this project is the responsibility of Galway County Council. In 2026, Galway County Council received an allocation of €2 million for the Athenry relief road to continue construction of the third section. The Department has provided funding to Galway County Council under the strategic regional and local road grant programme to undertake surveys to allow the development of the preliminary design, including aspects of the bridge works required to facilitate the final section of the relief road. This work has been progressed in conjunction with Irish Rail. The current proposal indicates that the existing bridge over the final road section may have to be raised and there may be additional impacts on another bridge. The cost implications are being assessed on the final section of the Athenry relief road and any possible impact on the business case for the scheme.

In summary, the Minister for Transport recognises the importance of the funding provided to local authorities for the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network together with some targeted investment in road improvement projects. This funding helps to maintain a functioning, safe interconnected network that facilitates thousands of people in their day-to-day activities.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh maith agat. What I am really looking for is clarity on this project. The people of Athenry have been waiting for the ring road for a very long time. It is a hugely important infrastructural project for the town and for reducing congestion in the town.

It is critical for us as a growing town and a town that is going to continue to grow significantly in the years ahead. The design work is going on for a very long time at this stage. We know what is required for the bridge works to facilitate the road and the new railway. When will this project proceed? Will these projects proceed together? That is the clarity I am looking for on behalf of the people of Athenry. We want both projects to progressing as quickly as possible because they are both very important. That is also the position of Galway County Council. It is very welcome that we have clarity on the rail line and certainty that it is going to reopen in the future. There is no reason the rail and road projects cannot progress together and be up and running in the near future. We need the plans to be put in place for that, and funding allocated to make that a reality. I appreciate this is not the Minister of State’s Department, but if a request could go into the Department to provide that clarity, it would be much appreciated on behalf of the people of Athenry.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising forcefully the need for clarity and certainty in relation to when the next phase of works will happen for this relief road. I have outlined the current state of play and there is no point in outlining it again but I will undertake to raise what the Deputy has said this evening with the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and ask him to come back to the Deputy with any further updates regarding the state of play of the road.