Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1925. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there are outstanding requests for information or opinion from the national parks section of her Department from Transport Infrastructure Ireland or Galway County Council in relation to the proposed M6-N6 extension around Galway city; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the lack of a response is delaying the submission of the proposed road design to An Bord Pleanála; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1269/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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While my Department will not be the decision maker in relation to any aspect of the project, it has been proactive in trying to assist the project's progression where possible.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has reviewed and provided observations and comments on drafts of Natura Impact and Environmental Impact statements and has met Galway County Council’s consultants to discuss and clarify issues.

NPWS has been engaging and assisting throughout the pre-application process and has attended six meetings with the project team. In the course of these meetings, minutes of which are available, details of the habitat and species surveys carried out, including the methodologies used and the findings, were reported, updated and discussed. Draft data, maps and reports have also been provided. Other associated environmental data and survey findings (e.g. hydrology, hydrogeology, soils, etc.) were reported on and discussed.

Notwithstanding the fact that decisions in relation to Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment will fall to an Bord Pleanala, my Department is now dedicating significant resources in assisting the local authority by carrying out a full review of the most up-to-date draft of EIS/NIS; such work would not normally be undertaken by my Department at this stage but has agreed to do so in the case of this important project. There is no question whatsoever of the NPWS delaying this project.