Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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610. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason he will not liaise with the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to resolve the problem with the N59; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39227/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As Minister I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme, the planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects (including the N59) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with Galway County Council.

Notwithstanding the above, it is my understanding that it is a condition of An Bord Pleanála's consent that work on the upgrade of the Oughterard to Maam Cross section of the route is subject to the agreement of method statements by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

It is also the case that planning consent was refused for the upgrade of the Maam Cross to Clifden section of the route and the alignment, therefore, that needs to be re-examined before a revised scheme can be considered. 

The upgrade of the N59, therefore, involves significant issues relating to meeting planning consent requirements. These issues have to be addressed by the parties directly involved and in accordance with the statutory planning process in which neither I nor Minister Humphreys has a role. 

I do understand from TII that method statements for ground investigation works for the Maam Cross to Bunnakill section of the N59 have recently been approved by NPWS.