GO ALL THE WAY WITH CONNEMARA ROAD URGES HARKIN

Independent MEP Marian Harkin has welcomed the announcement of a new road from Galway City into Connemara but called for it to be extended as far as Screebe.

“This is fully justified by the needs of the Gaeltacht people of West Connemara for economic and social reasons and, most importantly, as a commitment to an area with the highest daily usage of the Irish language”, she said.  The Government and County Council commitment to balanced regional development could only be fulfilled by developing a top class road from Galway to Screebe and by giving a completion time for it, she said.

“It is understandable that a road may, for financial reasons, have to be completed in stages but the important thing is that the finish schedule is adhered to and that the quality of road is completed to the same standard for is entire length”, Marian Harkin said.

West Connemara was one of Ireland’s major tourism attractions and, as such, earned huge revenues for the state but not necessarily for its own area, she said.  “Because of this West Connemara and its people fully deserve to see the necessary investment made by the Government in a road appropriate to the 21st century and to have it completed within this decade”, Independent MEP Marian Harkin said.