CIF ‘shopping list’ for Budget seeks move on city bypass
The Government has been urged to prioritise roads projects, including the proposed new city bypass, officially known as the N6 Galway City Transport Project.
The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has included the controversial project, which is still in the planning stages, in its ‘shopping list’ submitted to Finance Minister Michael Noonan.
The builders’ lobby group has included the bypass in its pre-budget submission, ahead of Budget 2017.
“The Galway City Outer Bypass would significantly alleviate the chronic traffic congestion problems in the city. It would also open up development opportunities for both the city and county which in turn would attract additional investment and employment opportunities,” CIF said in its pre-budget submission seen by the Galway City Tribune.
The Cork to Limerick motorway, and improvements to national roads in Mayo and Sligo are also included in their demands.
CIF argues in its submission that infrastructural investment has been “decimated” since the recession hit eight years ago.
Tom Parlon, CIF director general, said spending on roads projects such as the city bypass provide an injection into the economy.
He claimed an increase in spending on construction yields some 10,000 jobs. “Transport infrastructure is critically important for spatial planning and economic development but suffers key weaknesses. A major expansion of the road network occurred during the 1990s and 2000s, in particular in terms of motorways. The completion of the regional network connecting urban centres like Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo must happen,” said Mr Parlon.
He welcomed the Government’s commitment to increase housing supply by 25,000 each year by 2020.
“However, without a concomitant increase in capital investment in infrastructure, there is a risk that these houses will not be adequately serviced by road, rail, water and broadband,” he said.
Mr Parlon said Galway can play its part in acting as a counter balance to Dublin, the economic engine of the country.
He added: “Without balanced regional development, the Irish economy will continue to become unsustainably dependent on Dublin as our sole engine for growth. Anyone who doesn't believe the infrastructure deficit and housing shortage are related should look at NAMA's plans for housebuilding; 78pc of its proposed activity centres on Dublin, the rest on Cork and Galway.
“It believes, like many builders, that it is not economically viable to build outside these urban centres. No housebuilding activity in these areas will only exacerbate the current problem.
“It is estimated the Cork region accounts for 17% of Ireland’s GDP. With such a significant economic base, the region can act as a complementary counter-balance to Dublin. Then connecting Cork to Limerick and Galway could create a powerful economic corridor that, marketed correctly, could yield regional balanced growth by attracting increased levels of foreign direct investment.
“Transport infrastructure is critically important for spatial planning and economic development but suffers key weaknesses. The completion of the regional network connecting urban centres like Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo must happen.”