Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement matter this morning. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to the House.

I wish to raise the matter of a relief road for Claregalway. I can go back to 2008 to when my then colleagues, Pádraic McCormack, former TD, and Fidelma Healy Eames, who was a Member of this House, both raised this matter with the Department of Transport. At that stage, the bypass at Claregalway was being talked about in the context of the Gort to Tuam motorway, which was due to open in 2012 but opened in September 2017. That was obviously a very important development at that time. It has made life along the west coast more tolerable for those coming from Limerick and Clare up to Tuam and onwards. It has provided some relief for Claregalway, but nothing of the level that is required.

Claregalway is a growing area. It has three schools in the heart of its community with more than 1,600 pupils. There are thousands of cars travelling each day. Back in 2008, there was talk of a relief road. Galway County Council had sought a relief road in advance of the motorway being opened. Obviously, that did not happen. Since then, there has been talk and it has gone away, and then there was more talk and it went away. Obviously, there were down times and good times. Now, it seems that there is a little bit of talk again. I am looking for an update regarding the provision of a relief road.

The plans were to have a road from Kiniska on the Tuam side of the village to Cregboy on the Galway side crossing the River Clare. I have seen following the opening of the bypass in Moycullen what a difference it makes to a community. It really just makes it quieter and safer. It makes it more accessible for those who want to do business. It improves air quality. It just gives a different feel to a community than having a constant stream of cars, particularly at peak times. I want to see for Claregalway something similar to what was achieved in Moycullen. I want to see a community being freer and safer to allow for the necessary developments that are going to take place in the community anyway because we need housing and facilities and amenities for people as well.

Along the main road - the main national route in Claregalway - we have housing estates like An Mhainistir, Lakeview, River Oaks and Gort An Ghabhann. We have the Claregalway Hotel and The Arches Hotel. We have pubs, garages, supermarkets, commercial units and a church.There are roads like the Montiagh road, Cahergowan, the R381 to Oranmore, and the corporate park. It is a very busy place but, unfortunately, it is built around a national road under the jurisdiction of Transport Infrastructure Ireland. The people of Claregalway and commuters going through Claregalway deserve better. They deserve a more efficient journey home, safer streets and a more hospitable place to live, work, do business and be educated in. A relief road will provide the impetus for a more livable Claregalway and that is what I want to see. I am looking for an update on engagement between Galway County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland on the provision of a relief road for Claregalway.