A decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála on the long-debated Galway City Ring Road is due in January, according to a local Government Minister – as funding of over €1 billion for the project was confirmed in the revised National Development Plan.

Galway West TD and Minister of State Noel Grealish said that a decision on the Ring Road was imminent, as he welcomed the allocation of €1 billion plus in the NDP – as well as the inclusion of the Claregalway bypass.

Describing it as ‘a red-letter day for Galway’, he said that it was vital that funding was in place ‘once An Coimisiún Pleanála made a decision on whether or not it can go ahead, so that there would be no delay in getting work started’.

“That decision, it is hoped, will be announced by the end of January – and, assuming they are in favour, the money will now be there to move the project forward quickly,” he said.

Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports Seán Canney confirmed that the Western Rail Corridor section from Claremorris to Athenry via Tuam had also been secured as a targeted priority project in the Department of Transport’s Sectoral Plan for the revised National Development Plan.

Caption: An artist’s impression of the proposed Galway City Ring Road.

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