Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It would be a game changer and I have been a long-term supporter of it.

Galway city is the earmark for the minimum target population of 122,000 by 2040. This would be an increase of 36,000. It is a tall order when one considers the traffic issues around the city and the lack of progress on the Ardaun concept, which was a new town that was envisaged back when Adamstown was being envisaged and commenced in Dublin. It is a new town immediately to the east of the city near where the motorway ends. We have not seen a lot of progress on this to be honest about it. One of the main necessary drivers to develop it would be a wastewater strategy encompassing that whole area and places like Athenry, Oranmore, Clarinbridge and Craughwell. That will take pressure off Galway city and allow it to develop as well.

Relating to the review of the development plans which are necessary to come to. These cannot take two years. A measure must be put in place to fast-track those in order that if there are to be an extra 500 people in a certain town, it can be done quickly and not take years to review plans, strategies and everything else like that.