The Athenry ring road is a key infrastructural project for our town. It is fair to say that progress has been quite slow. While parts of the road have been completed, we need to see this full project progressed and delivered. Construction is ongoing at the elbow section at Ballygarraun. That is very welcome and will provide another connection to the schools and the motorway and make it quicker and easier to get around the town. The next section to be completed is the eastern section through Ballydavid. This is key because it will connect the Tuam road to the Monivea road and take a huge amount of traffic out of the town centre. Cars coming in from the likes of Monivea, Attymon and surrounding areas will be able to completely avoid the town. It will make a huge difference in reducing traffic and congestion. Traffic is becoming a serious issue in the town. The population of Athenry is expected to grow considerably in the years ahead. We have a lot of planning permissions approved for new housing developments. That is, obviously, a very good thing, but it is absolutely critical that we have the infrastructure in place to support and cater for an increased population and increased demands on infrastructure and public services. This means proper educational facilities. Our local schools need increased capacity. In particular, we need to see the new Gaelcampus, which we have been waiting 20 years for. It will mean having improved healthcare services, access to GPs and recreation spaces and amenities. It is important to say a lot of good work is going on locally through the Athenry town centre plan and other initiatives to enhance our public spaces and the heritage of the town. In particular, we need improved transport services and infrastructure. Our rail services are at capacity and we are still waiting for a new bus service. The eastern section of the ring road is critical to taking traffic out of the town. We now know that the western rail corridor project from Athenry to Tuam is going ahead. It is a very welcome project. The western rail corridor and this section of the ring road will intersect, so it is positive that we now have clarity on the future of the rail line in the context of this project as well, as both of them can and should proceed together. I ask the Minister of State to please provide an update on this project.

Sentiment score: 0.25

Go raibh maith agat. What I am really looking for is clarity on this project. The people of Athenry have been waiting for the ring road for a very long time. It is a hugely important infrastructural project for the town and for reducing congestion in the town. It is critical for us as a growing town and a town that is going to continue to grow significantly in the years ahead. The design work is going on for a very long time at this stage. We know what is required for the bridge works to facilitate the road and the new railway. When will this project proceed? Will these projects proceed together? That is the clarity I am looking for on behalf of the people of Athenry. We want both projects to progressing as quickly as possible because they are both very important. That is also the position of Galway County Council. It is very welcome that we have clarity on the rail line and certainty that it is going to reopen in the future. There is no reason the rail and road projects cannot progress together and be up and running in the near future. We need the plans to be put in place for that, and funding allocated to make that a reality. I appreciate this is not the Minister of State’s Department, but if a request could go into the Department to provide that clarity, it would be much appreciated on behalf of the people of Athenry.

Sentiment score: 0.15