Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the recent allocations by the Minister for Transport to Transport Infrastructure Ireland for national roads and greenways. However I urge a certain amount of caution regarding cost inflation within road projects I am not just talking about the major national road problems. I am also taking about the ordinary road maintenance budgets the local authorities have to spend. They could spend more but the costs of these projects now whether it be in relation to labour, to bitumen or 804 crushed stone are all increasing. Transport costs in general are increasing also. Maybe we could write to the Minister in respect of additional allocations for local authorities.

I welcome the allocation for Galway County Council. A large portion of the national road budget in Galway for this year includes some €25 million for the completion of the Moycullen bypass on which works are progressing. It is due to open next August or September. This will be a major infrastructure project for the Connemara area and for commuters in Moycullen. It will reshape the village of Moycullen and improve safety and quality of life within the village. It will also improve the commute from Killannin, Oughterard, Recess and out towards the Clifden area as well. The quality of life will improve in terms of the journey times coming home from Galway city. In conjunction with this, there is certainly a need for improved bus services. There are 13 buses a day coming in from Oughterard and Moycullen into Galway city. There are applications for additional licences from Citylink for improved services. Bus Éireann has also been asked to improve services by looking at the demand analysis on the route. This is whole-of-transport approach in relation to issues in the area.