Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals for the provision of the approximately €20 million acquired by Galway County Council for the provision of an inner relief road in Claregalway, County Galway as promised by Government Deputies before the 2007 general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11745/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Agreed Programme for Government (June 2007) includes a commitment — in the context of the National Roads Authority (NRA) programme — that Claregalway is to be by-passed by 2012 as part of the N17 Galway to Tuam road. The proposed bypass scheme is now being advanced as a motorway and the Motorway Order/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was published at the end of 2007. The Oral Hearing into the Scheme commences on the 23rd April 2008. Subject to a favourable passage of the scheme through the Statutory Process, I am confident that the commitment in the Programme for Government will be delivered and that the Claregalway will be bypassed by 2012.

In addition to the development of the N17 Tuam Galway Motorway, which will provide considerable relief to the town of Claregalway, Galway County Council has approached my Department in relation to possible funding for an interim relief road. This proposal has been put forward on the basis that it would provide relief from traffic congestion, in advance of the motorway, and also because a new road in the area would open up land for housing and related development. A road designed to facilitate such development might qualify for funding under the Department's regional and local road strategic grants scheme.

In December 2007, Galway County Council was asked by the Department to supply additional information to support the proposal for the proposed interim scheme. In particular, the Council was asked to give a breakdown of the estimated scheme's cost, including details of the land costs, construction costs, design, supervision and other costs. The Council was also asked to indicate the extent to which the scheme would open up land for necessary development and to indicate the financial contribution the Council would make to the scheme, including the potential income from development contributions arising from development supported by the proposed new road.

A reply from the Council is awaited. When the information is received, it will be examined in my Department to assess whether the proposal would qualify for grant aid under the terms of the strategic grants scheme.