A formal motion put to Galway Co. Councillors by Independent Clir. Seosamh Ó Cuaig, Chairman of the Roads and Transportation Committee of the Council that Gaeltacht Minister Éamon Ó Cuív provide further funding to carry out a feasability study on an exyension to the proposed road was carried unanimously by the Council at Iast Monday's meeting.

Cllr Ó Cuaig told Glór Chonamara that the extension, from the proposed ending at Ballinahown, should follow the existing route of the R336 as far as was possible in order to minimise planning delays and infringement on Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). The ESB's plans to run highvoltage cables to South Connemara recently fell foul of the SAC rulings.

On the 18th of September, the Connemara Councillors agreed to adopt this strategy and their decision has met with the unanimous approval of the Council. Engineers had also indicated that the terrain is not particularIy "friendly" towards the construction of an all-new roadway.

Planning on the construction of the first section of roadway - from the proposed Galway City Outer Relief Road to Ballinahown, is underway.

Progress on this, although steady, is expected to be slow as there are a huge number of individual land holdings - or folios - to be dealt with and each single folio requires time and attention before a route can be finalised.

The current study, for which funding was provided by the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, is examining three separate possible routes, eacb with separate planning requirements and implications. However, a decision on whicb of the three routes the roadway will finally take is expected soon. "The equivalent of the entire population of County Leitrim, plus a couple of thousand more, have to make their way through Galway City if they want to go anywhere", said Cllr Ó Cuaig. "The polulation of south and west Connnemara is growing all the time and it is imperative that a properly funded study be carried out in order to provide the best transport solutions for the next couple of generations. "To exclude areas like Carna and Kilkieran at a time like this would be very shortsighted and foolish indeed."

Progressive Democrat Cllr Thomas Welby also called on the Minister to make the necessary funds available "Following representations from a group from Cama, the Connemara Councillors have given their unanimous backing to have the new road diverted through Screebe, which would give improved access to areas like Cama and Kilkieran."

"An additional study now needs to be undertaken by Galway County Council on this proposal and I am publicly calling on Minister Ó Cuív to fund this study", said Cllr.Welby.

Glór Chonamara 29/9/2006

Baile

Fógraíodh ag cruinniú Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe an tseachtain seo go raibh litir sínithe ag seachtar Chonamara - Seán Ó Tuairisg, Connie Ní Fhátharta, Seán Kyne, Seosamh Ó Cuaig, Josie Conneely, Thomas Welby agus Séamus Breathnach - ag iarraidh go ndéanfai staidéar eile faoin mbóthar nua atá molta as Conamara go Gaillimh.

Tá Comhairleoirí Chonamara ag iarraidh go gcuirfeadh an tAire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, Éamon Ó Cuív airgead ar fáil don Chomhairle Contae le níoc as staidéar ar shíneadh an bhóthair go Scríb i gcroílár Chonamara.

Sa litir seo, dúirt Comhairleoirí Chonamara go bhfuil siadsan ag iarraidh go mbeadh an píosa bóthair seo as Ros a' MhíI go Scríb fite fuaite sa mbóthar nua atá molta as Conamara go Gaiilimh.

Níl siad ag iarraidh go mbeadh sé ina eireaball ar an mbóthar a bheadh fágtha go dtí am éigint i bhfad amach sna blianta. Táthar ag iarraidh go dtabharfaí piosa nua bóthair anios as ceantar chrosbhóthar na nDoireadha go Leitir Mucú - nó thart ansin- agus go mbeadh an bóthar nua ag sníomh isteach sa mbóthar atá ann faoi láthair.

De réir an mholadh seo, leathnófaí agus dhaingneofaí an bóthar as Leitir Mucú go Scríb sa gcaoi agus go mbeadh sé ina bhóthar nua.

Idir an dá linn, chuaigh an Comhairleoir Contae, Josie Conneely go Dáil Éireann i gcuideachta an Aire Stáit, Frank Fahey, Déardaoin, agus iad ag casadh leis an Aire Martin Cullen agus le Priomh Fheidhmeannach Údarás na mBóithre Náisiúnta.

Sé an priomhbhóthar as an gClochán go Gaillimh is mé a bhi faoi chaibidil ansin. Glactar leis go bhfuil drochbhail ar an mbóthar sin agus tá iarracht mhór ar bun leis na milliúin a fháil le forbairt cheart a dhéanamh air.

Mairtin Ó Cathain; Foinse 1/10/2006