Landmark decision as Galway City Ring Road finally approved – Kyne / Cinneadh suntasach agus Bóthar Cúirtil na Gaillimhe ceadaithe faoi dheireadh – Kyne  

The approval of the N6 Galway City Ring Road is a momentous and seismic day for the city and surrounding areas, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Seán Kyne, Fine Gael’s candidate in the Galway West bye-election said, “This is a historic day for the people of Galway city, Connemara and the west of Ireland. This approval has been a long time coming and I know how much it means to the thousands of people who sit in gridlock every day while trying to get to work, bring their children to school or make a hospital appointment on time.”

The 18-kilometre route will run from the M6 motorway in the east of the city to west of the village of Bearna and includes a new crossing over the River Corrib. It is set to be one of the most transformative pieces of transport infrastructure ever delivered in the west of Ireland.

“Today’s decision by An Comisiún Pleanála is a culmination of years of relentless lobbying at the highest level of Government. I have been fighting for this road throughout my political career as a TD, Minister and Senator,” he said.

The Government has committed over €1bn to the ring road under the revised National Development Plan, ensuring the project can move to construction without delay.

In the years since the original quashing of the decision in 2023, annual funding allocations have continued which allowed design, legal and planning works to continue.

Senator Kyne says for the people of Galway city and the surrounding areas; the ring road means far more than just a reduction in commuting times.

“Communities in the west of the city, including Maigh Cuilinn, Bearna, Na Forbacha, An Spidéal, Oughterard and across Connemara will have reliable connection to employment, healthcare and education without having to navigate one of the most congested roads in Ireland.

“This project will also free up road space in the city centre for public transport and cyclists, while also unlocking the Galway BusConnects programme.”

Senator Kyne now says the Government needs to build on this momentum and get shovels in the ground:

“The people of Galway have waited long enough and with over €1 billion already committed, there’s no excuse it’s time for any further delay. It’s time to get building.”

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Is lá stairiúil agus ríthábhachtach é ceadú Bhóthar Cúirtil an N6 don chathair agus do na ceantair máguaird, a dúirt Seanadóir de chuid Fhine Gael.

Dúirt an Seanadóir Seán Kyne, iarrthóir Fhine Gael i bhfothoghchán Ghaillimh Thiar, “Is lá stairiúil é seo do mhuintir chathair na Gaillimhe, do Chonamara agus d’iarthar na hÉireann. Tá an ceadú seo ag teacht le fada an lá agus tá a fhios agam go maith cad is brí leis do na mílte duine a bhíonn i bhfostú i sáinn tráchta gach lá agus iad ag iarraidh dul ag obair, a gcuid leanaí a thabhairt ar scoil nó coinne san ospidéal a bhaint amach in am.”

“Beidh an bealach 18 gciliméadar ar fhad ag rith ó mhótarbhealach an M6 in oirthear na cathrach go dtí an taobh thiar de shráidbhaile Bhearna, agus beidh trasnú nua thar Abhainn na Gaillimhe san áireamh ann. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh sé ar cheann de na píosaí bonneagair iompair is mó a athróidh saol an phobail d’aon rud a tógadh riamh in iarthar na hÉireann.”

“Is é cinneadh an lae inniu ag An Coimisiún Pleanála toradh na mblianta de stocaireacht gan staonadh ag an leibhéal is airde Rialtais. Tá mé ag troid ar son an bhóthair seo feadh mo shaoil pholaitiúil mar Theachta Dála, mar Aire agus mar Sheanadóir,” a dúirt sé.

Tá breis is €1bn geallta ag an Rialtas don bhóthar cúirtil faoin bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta athbhreithnithe, rud a chinntíonn gur féidir leis an tionscadal bogadh ar aghaidh go dtí an chéim tógála gan mhoill. Sna blianta ó cuireadh an bun-chinneadh ar neamhní in 2023, leanadh leis na leithdháiltí bliantúla maoinithe, rud a d’fhág go bhféadfaí leanúint leis an obair dhearaidh, dhlíthiúil agus phleanála.

Deir an Seanadóir Kyne go gciallaíonn an bóthar cúirtil i bhfad níos mó do mhuintir chathair na Gaillimhe agus do na ceantair máguaird ná laghdú ar amanna taistil amháin.

“Beidh nasc iontaofa le fostaíocht, le cúram sláinte agus le hoideachas ag pobail in iarthar na cathrach, lena n-áirítear Maigh Cuilinn, Bearna, Na Forbacha, An Spidéal, Uachtar Ard agus ar fud Chonamara, gan a bheith orthu taisteal ar cheann de na bóithre is mó plódú in Éirinn.

“Fágfaidh an tionscadal seo spás saor ar bhóithre i lár na cathrach freisin don iompar poiblí agus do rothaithe, agus ag an am céanna, réiteoidh sé an bealach do chlár BusConnects na Gaillimhe.”

Deir an Seanadóir Kyne anois go gcaithfidh an Rialtas tógáil ar an móimint seo agus tús a chur leis an obair thógála láithreach:

“Tá muintir na Gaillimhe ag feitheamh fada go leor agus ós rud é go bhfuil breis is €1 billiún geallta cheana féin, níl aon leithscéal ann do thuilleadh moille. Tá sé in am an tógáil a thosú.”