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Parkmore tops the agenda as Oireachtas committee hears serious concerns over Galway traffic crisis
Galway Bay fm newsroom – A public hearing to discuss traffic congestion in Galway city has taken place at Leinster House this afternoon.
The meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport aimed to discuss the current problems facing the road network and the raft of alleviation works currently underway.
The meeting – which finished up just before 5pm – was attended by a number of Galway’s public representatives – as well as stakeholders from groups including the Department of Transport, the National Transport Authority and Galway’s local authorities.
Those in attendance included NTA Chief Executive Anne Graham – who provided a summary of the considerable issues in Galway.
Vice President with Medtronic in Galway, Tony Neary, told those in attendance that there’s only one thing in Parkmore that has not changed in 35 years – the access road network.
Many consider the proposed N6 Galway City Outer Bypass to be the ultimate solution to the chronic traffic issues.
However, measures to tackle the situation in the meantime include an enhanced city transport network, improved bus network, new park and ride services, and new cycling and walking routes.
City Chief Executive Brendan McGrath told this afternoon’s meeting that Galway’s road network is operating significantly beyond capacity – sometimes up to 150%.
Senior Engineer Uinsinn Finn outlined what measures are being taken under the Galway Transport Strategy.
However, at this afternoon’s meeting, NTA Chief Anne Graham strongly ruled out a light rail system for Galway.
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
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