Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement Matter. Cuirim fáilte roimh an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Buttimer, agus déanaim comhghairdeas leis as ucht an ardú céime atá faighte aige. Tá a fhios agam go mbeidh sé anseo ar feadh tamaill agus ag déanamh sároibre ar son an Rialtais agus mhuintir na tíre.

I want to raise the matter of the N59 road in Connemara. The N59 is the longest road in Ireland. It stretches from County Sligo through County Mayo into Connemara and around to Galway city. The Galway section stretches from Leenane to Clifden to Maam Cross and into Galway city. It is a beautiful road. The section from Leenane to Clifden is part of the Wild Atlantic Way. It is an important road. It is the only national secondary road we have in the Connemara area. Improvements have been made to it over the past few years. The Moycullen bypass opened in December 2023. It has alleviated traffic in the evenings and has benefited residents of Moycullen, Rosscahill, Oughterard and indeed, all users on that road. In 2020 and 2021, we saw the start and completion of the N59 Maam Cross to Bunnakill upgrade. That covered approximately 5 km of road. For anyone who has driven it since that has been a huge improvement and it is such a pleasure to drive compared to the road section preceding it and after it. It has improved road safety enormously for drivers, cyclists, residents along the road and landowners. It really is what we should strive to see along the whole road in terms of improved sight lines, drivability, comfort and greater overtaking opportunities. The next phase committed to was from Bunnakill to Claremont and Oughterard, which is 10 km. The plan, as I understand it, was to carry out improvements to a similar level doing 5 km at a time. This section of road has an unusual planning history. It got planning permission a number of years ago but one of the conditions was to have engagement with the National Parks and WIldlife Service, NPWS, at different stages. That was something the NPWS did not request or particularly want. It had not been something it received in the past. After some back and forth, the council requested an amendment to the planning condition and sought agreement from the NPWS for its support to the amendment to the planning application. That happened. The service wrote to the county council and that went back to the board. The road project has planning permission. We have seen what can be done. The issues surrounding the National Parks and Wildlife Service and its unusual role as part of the planning application has been agreed following approval from the service. Where is this at now and what is the next stage that will result in construction of this badly needed road for the benefit of the residents of Connemara and tourists alike?