Connacht Tribune
Critical infrastructure identified for future of the West
The construction of the Galway City Outer Bypass, a high-quality road and rail network from Galway to Derry and the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor have all been identified as critical infrastructure for the development of the Western region.
In a submission to Government on the ‘Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework’, the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) has also identified the city regions of Galway, Sligo and Letterkenny-Derry as critical development areas for future population growth.
The Framework is a national policy being drafted which will attempt to map out the country’s population growth over the next 25 years.
The NWRA said the development of the Atlantic Economic Corridor from Galway to Derry, to a ‘TEN-T’ high quality road standard. A ‘TEN-T’ is a trans-European Transport network standard which comprises roads, railway lines and terminals and ports.
“This will ensure improved access to the city regions, but also to Ireland West International Airport,” the submission reads.
The submission – prepared as a ‘look back’ at the country from the years 2028 and 2040 – adds that the Galway-Derry is “critical” to achieving ongoing development in the Northern and Western regions.
“The Assembly demonstrate the critical need to underpin the long-term development of the region through the provision of key infrastructure including upgrading the N4 (and N5 from Westport to N17), the N2/A5 (which runs from Dublin, through Tyrone and Derry), the Galway City Ring Road and the N17/N15 Atlantic Corridor network,” the submission reads.
It adds that the unused Western Rail Corridor must remain in public ownership to ensure it can re-open to deal with freight requirements and the potential impact of Brexit.
“The long-term feasibility of extension of existing rail services from Galway up to Sligo must remain an open option subject to appropriate consideration. This also applies to the movement of rail freight across the region and island generally.
“Therefore, retaining existing and under-used networks in public ownership must remain a policy priority for the long term.
“There is an existing unutilised but in care railway line from Galway up to Colloney taking in Tuam, Claremorris and Tubbercurry and other smaller towns and villages which runs in close proximity to Ireland West Airport Knock. There has been a long-standing campaign to re-open this line as well as a campaign to use the line as a part of a long distance off-road cycle/walkway.
“The need for the long-term to protect the rail alignments from Galway to Sligo is critical. As freight develops and with the potential impact of Brexit on the existing key export ports on the island the country needs to retain options for re-configuring freight movements out of other developing ports such as Shannon/Foynes and Galway.
“The relevant Development Plans in Galway, Mayo and Sligo acknowledge the need to preserve the line for future potential development for rail purposes. The retention of existing and underused alignments in public ownership should be a priority, as this cross-radial rail corridor has the capacity to deliver sustainable transport options proximate to the Atlantic Economic Corridor,” the submission reads.
Its future vision also identifies Galway and Killybegs Ports as the “jewels in the crown in the northern European cruise markets with a continuous flow of adventure-based and general tourism cruise offerings”.
The report also identifies stumbling blocks to the future prosperity of Galway City – one of the three urban centres which it has earmarked for expansion in population and capable of creating new employment.
“The Galway City region has been the urban success story within the NWRA region in recent times and has continued to grow in the last 15 years, with its population scheduled to pass 100,000 shortly beyond 2020 if the current rate of growth continues in the coming years.
“Galway can continue to grow and prosper, however, there are a number of key barriers which must be addressed to enable this, which include: the timely advancement of the Galway Port project; the implementation of the Galway City Transport Strategy; the Galway City Ring Road; additional wastewater infrastructure.
“The opening of the M17/18 from Gort to Tuam will have a significant and positive impact in accessing into Shannon and Limerick from Galway and South Mayo, but there remains considerable necessity to advance critical road-based provision if the expectations of the Atlantic Economic Corridor are to be achieved,” the submission reads.
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
