Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the NDP.

The Government has earmarked €5.1 billion for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country as well as compact growth, which are key national strategic outcomes. The Senator is right about relief roads. I recently travelled to Macroom to open a dementia café and that town has had a bypass built. The difference it has made is phenomenal. There is less congestion and a faster journey for people who do not have to go through Macroom. Approximately €411 million of Exchequer capital funds have been provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2024. In total, almost €15 million in Exchequer funding has been allocated to Galway County Council in 2024.

On the Senator's specific point, a funding application has been made by Galway County Council in relation to the N83 Baile Chláir-Claregalway relief road. This project is aimed at removing through traffic from the village and improving the environment for residents and visitors in the village centre. The project will include the construction of a new bridge over the River Clare. Production and submission of the project outline document is awaited from Galway County Council. This document will set out the issues and identify a range of potential solutions in line with the national investment framework for transport in Ireland and Government policy. In the meantime, funding of €500,000 has been made available in 2024 to progress drainage, pavement and safety works on the N83 within the town.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact a funding application has been made by Galway County Council. Unfortunately, we heard the same thing in 2008 and on numerous occasions since then. I am concerned this is another stalling position and after the series of elections will still have made no progress. The people of Claregalway need to know this will progress, go to TII and be funded. The concern is we hear anecdotally and from different parts of the country that there is a slowdown on capital spending on road projects. I know the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is not overly enamoured of new road projects. It is important we get greater clarity from TII on this project.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My understanding is there were issues in relation to judicial review. An Bord Pleanála was involved. The Senator can correct me if I am wrong but that is what I am seeing in front of me. When we go down that line, these things hold up everything. The most important thing is that €500,000 has been made available in 2024 to progress the drainage, pavement and safety works on the N83 within the town, which shows this work is commencing at some level. For towns and villages it sometimes takes a long time to get a relief road but it is important it happens, especially for the people living there.

A major priority in the NDP, in line with the Department's investment hierarchy, is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing national road network. In relation to the funding provided, the greater portion becomes available in the second half of the decade. This means there is constraint on available funding for new projects this year. However, most national road projects in the NDP will continue to be progressed in 2024.

I note production and submission of the project outline document is awaited from Galway County Council. Until that is received, there is a small barrier there. I understand the Senator's frustration, however, because these things take a long time.