Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address this issue on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Donohoe this afternoon. The matter was debated in the Dáil on 18 February during Topical Issues but I am happy to explain the current position regarding the N6 again this afternoon.As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe has responsibility for overall policy and funding in respect of the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, however, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. The assessment and prioritisation of individual national road projects is a matter for the NRA within its capital budget in accordance with section 19 of the Roads Acts.

The Minister is aware that Galway County Council, on its own behalf and on behalf of Galway City Council, is currently focused on addressing existing transportation issues in Galway city and surrounding areas. As part of this process, Galway County Council has initiated a public consultation to inform the public of the transportation options which have been developed to address the problems identified, the constraints identified to date, the implications of the EU Habitats Directive and the project programme. The relevant options cover public transport, smarter travel and road elements. As indicated in the public consultation documents, the position of Galway city between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay, together with the presence of designated sites, presents significant constraints for developing new infrastructure. Galway County Council has, therefore, focused on considering all alternatives in order to minimise the impact on designated sites. The stated objective of this phase of the council's work is to identify a suitable study area for the examination of alternative routes and transportation solutions, determine the key constraints within this study area, develop feasible route options and transportation solutions and carry out a systematic assessment of these options leading to the selection of a preferred route corridor or transportation solution. Such solution will form the basis for the detailed design.

Road options to connect the R336 on the west of the city to the existing N6 to the east have been identified in regard to the possible road component of the transport solution. Six such options have been included in the public consultation process. Galway County Council has indicated that these are draft options which are subject to change in light of more detailed assessments, ongoing studies and the results of the public consultation. In this context, the Minister understands that the purpose of the recent second consultation is threefold. First, its purpose is to update the public on work to date on the project which includes the presentation of the options under consideration. Its second objective is to obtain input from the public on any other additional significant constraints and the impact the proposals may have. Third, it offers the public an opportunity to propose further alternative options which had not previously been considered. The design team will examine the feasibility of such options and determine whether they merit inclusion in the final appraisal of options. The Minister has also been informed that the design team is currently engaged in individual meetings with directly affected landowners and the public to provide more detail on the various options under consideration.

A public consultation process is underway which allows for the public and other stakeholders to make submissions until the end of February in respect of route options. The process will afford the Senator the opportunity to make an input if she believes that is appropriate. The Minister urges members of the public in Galway to engage with the public consultation process to ensure that they are fully informed and have their say on the proposed options. The information received will be collated by the design team and used in the assessment of the route options. I understand that the assessment process is due to be completed by the end of March 2015 and an emerging preferred route option will be identified. This emerging route corridor will subsequently be put on public display.

This matter has now been raised in both the Dáil and Seanad. As such, the Senator is putting down a clear marker of her concerns about this matter and the effect she believes the project could have on the people she represents and the wider city and county. The process is being led by the local authority. I have outlined the Minister's role, which is responsibility for all road policy in the country and working to deliver funding for projects prioritised by the NRA. While the Minister must wait until the process in Galway city and county reaches a conclusion, he acknowledges concerns about the matter and hopes the process can be used to respond to matters of legitimate concern to many within the city and beyond.