John Connolly

Overall sentiment: 0.25
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There are few other instances in the country that highlight how challenging and difficult we have made it to complete crucial infrastructure projects than the Galway city ring road. As the Taoiseach will be aware, the project was first mooted and planned for in 1999. There have been three separate planning decisions. The design and planning work that has gone into each of those has taken a significant time. There have been alternative compulsory purchase orders and a number of legal cases. The latest and third grant of planning for the project was on 9 April this year but, unfortunately, that faces judicial review, posing further delay to this crucial project and potential derailment. On 14 April this year, TII announced it had reached agreement with parties, which will allow the withdrawal of the judicial review proceedings relating to Luas Finglas. TII said that this means Luas Finglas can now proceed. Last December, our colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, confirmed the withdrawal of judicial review proceedings against An Coimisiún Pleanála's grant of planning for the metro project following constructive mediation. I ask that the Taoiseach supports-----

Sentiment score: 0.11

-----engagement with the transport authorities and the parties who have taken judicial reviews.

Sentiment score: 0.40