Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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129. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress his Department and related agencies under his Department's remit have made concerning the alleviation of transport and traffic challenges in Galway city which have been identified as impediments to businesses locating in the city or to new businesses being established there. [5165/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I understand the Deputy is referring to traffic congestion in connection with Parkmore Business Park in Galway which is a large, primarily industrial, complex that currently supports 6,000 jobs. The number of people working there has led to serious traffic congestion which has caused significant frustration.

IDA Ireland’s property department has been working over the past year to explore various options to alleviate the traffic congestion at Parkmore. A suite of infrastructural measures that could be implemented in the short term has also been identified which includes the construction of a new slip road from the IDA Parkmore West Park onto the Parkmore Road. Following initial discussions with Galway City and County Council, IDA Ireland submitted an application for planning permission to Galway County Council for a left-in left-out junction on 16 February 2016, with a view to proceeding to tender stage for the appointment of a contractor to carry out the works, once permission is granted.

I have been assured by IDA Ireland that it continues to work to develop long term infrastructural solutions to resolve this issue. The agency is also a member of the Parkmore Traffic Action Group, which was set up in October 2015 on foot of an urgent meeting with Galway City and County Councils and representatives of companies in the park. It is heartening to see local stakeholders working together to advance a solution to address the congestion issue. This is the type of collaborative “bottom-up” approach that is at the heart of the Regional Action Plans.

I am in regular contact with IDA Ireland in relation to this issue. I will also engage with local authority officials if it is of assistance.