Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív has described the ongoing delays in relation to the development of the N6 Galway city ring road as “completely unacceptable”.
The Fianna Fáil TD has called on the government and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to submit plans for the road to An Bord Pleanála without delay.
“The construction of a ring road for Galway city is one of the most urgently needed infrastructure projects facing the city and it has been delayed for a number of years at this stage. I was recently informed that the views of the National Parks and Wildlife Service on the proposed development were received by Galway County Council in January. This report relates to biodiversity and environmental impact assessments undertaken for the project,” explained Deputy Ó Cuív.
“I have also been informed that appropriate amendments to the environmental documents have now been completed and that the changes are being incorporated into the final version of the documentation.
“Despite the fact that Galway County Council has requested a meeting with An Bord Pleanála I understand that no date has been agreed. This work has to be completed before the project can be submitted to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for approval, and I am anxious that this process be expedited as quickly as possible.
“As a result of the ongoing delays it looks unlikely that the planning application for this €100m project will be lodged until May at the earliest, which is a number of months later than had been indicated.
“I’m calling on all of the parties involved in this process to ensure that this project is progressed as quickly as possible once it is submitted to An Bord Pleanála. The ring road is urgently needed; and until it is completed, the traffic chaos in the city will continue,” he added.
