Galway West TD Noel Grealish has demanded that a portion of the €13bn Apple ‘windfall’ be ring-fenced for major infrastructural projects in Galway – starting with the long-debated City Ring Road.

The Independent TD said that he would be insisting on Galway getting its fair share of the money in any talks on a Programme for Government if he is returned to the Dáil in the forthcoming general election.

He said that top of the priority list was funding for the Galway City Ring Road, if it’s approved by An Bord Pleanála – the planning appeals board is due to resume deliberations on the long-awaited project within weeks.

Deputy Grealish said he would also be looking for immediate funding for wastewater treatment and other infrastructure required for the development of the Ardaun corridor to the east of the city, which would allow for the building of thousands of much needed homes.

And he will further seek funding for the proper development of facilities at Galway’s UHG and Merlin Park hospitals, including its progression as a cancer centre of excellence, a new Emergency Department, new laboratory facilities and a minor injuries unit.

Next on the list is funding for the Claregalway relief road, which he said would finally give comfort to the 20,000 drivers held up coming through the village every day.

“This Apple money will not be available to the Irish Exchequer until next year and I will be insisting, as part of any discussions I have with parties in relation to the forming of a new Government, that some of the money is ringfenced for certain key infrastructural projects in Galway, if re-elected,” he said.

“The Taoiseach spoke about exciting opportunities to invest the Apple money in infrastructure for future generations – well, building a road around the city that will give relief to the many thousands of people currently spending wasted hours in their cars would be a good start, as would the Claregalway relief road.

“Galway is crippled by a shortage of housing, more so than most places in the country, and providing the vital infrastructure needed, such as proper wastewater treatment plant, to allow houses to be built in the area known as the Ardaun Corridor would be the single greatest contribution possible to solving that problem.

“And the development of facilities at the city’s two public hospitals will not only provide a better health service to the people of Galway, but to more than a million people all along the western seaboard, for whom Galway will be their cancer centre of excellence,” added Deputy Grealish.

Pictured: Seeking funding: Galway West TD Noel Grealish.