Green Party talks cast fresh doubts on Galway City Ring Road

The incoming Government may not be in a position to fund the proposed Galway ring road to bypass the city, in addition to alternative transport solutions to traffic.

That’s according to newly-elected Galway senator Pauline O’Reilly said her preference – and that of her Green Party – is to champion new cycling lanes, improved school buses, enhanced commuter rail, and park and ride ahead of a new road.

The fate of the ring road will be decided by An Bord Pleanála, which postponed its oral hearing into the project due to the Covid-19 emergency.

Debate about the merit of the road has raged again recently as Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green Party contemplate a ‘grand coalition’.

Fine Gael senator Seán Kyne and Fianna Fáil Senator Ollie Crowe, both recently confirmed their support for the new road. Others such as Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív, also reiterated that the road is needed.

Prior to the pandemic, close on €1 billion was earmarked for a new transport strategy for Galway, which included €650 million for a road and almost €300 million for other measures.

However, Senator O’Reilly has said that traffic solutions other than the road should be prioritised.

“If the road doesn’t go ahead, it’s not going to be because of the Green Party. It’s one billion euro at the end of the day – everyone knows where I stand on it. I think there are other measures that haven’t been put in place for decades in Galway, and those are the key problems,” she said.

Senator O’Reilly said commuter rail for the east of the county, as well as park and ride in Moycullen and Spiddal in the west would give commuters, “a variety of different methods to get around.”

“The statistics show us that only 3% of people want to get from one side of the city and completely go around the city. The majority of people are trying to just get around within the city, so it means everyone is disadvantaged that they have to go through that mess that is the city. Clearing up that mess is what will really result in proper management. 30% of traffic is actually children being brought to school but we’ve no proper bus service for children going to school, and we’ve no cycling lanes. Those are the things I’d be pushing for.

“If you do build that road, it’s out of my hands, but I think finding €1 billion for that, and then also finding the money for everything else, I think any Government would struggle with that, but it’s not for me to make that decision,” said Senator O’Reilly.

She said the Green Party was right to talk with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil about a coalition but she hasn’t ruled out voting against whatever Programme for Government that emerges from those talks.

“I’ve always said I would speak to everybody. I believe in sitting down and talking and getting the best deal for the country. I think it’s the right thing to do; to do what you can to govern and to do it with integrity.

“At the same time, if it’s not going to be any different than just having Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in there by themselves, then there is no point. Then you can actually achieve more by being able to hold them to account if you are outside (Government), which is why a good deal has to be important. It’s hugely important to me – climate is obviously massively important but so are some of our social justice issues,” she said.