Representatives from Connemara used the Oireachtas rural affairs committee to highlight the need for the upgrade of the N59 Clifden to Galway road.

Speaking at the committee meeting on Tuesday, Danny Healy-Rae reiterated the views of the Galway representatives and said the process needs to be moved along as soon as possible. He criticised the NPWS for holding up the development and said the vital upgrade of roads, such as the N59, cannot be hindered due to the fear among NPWS of “hurting a few snails”.

The east coast will tip over into the water and end up in Wales

The Kerry TD said those on the west coast of Ireland should have as much of a right to live and have proper access to roads as those on the east coast. He continued by saying it broke his heart to see the Kerry group leave the county in order to open a new multi-million euro headquarters in Co Kildare.

He says the Government needs to put “people before nature” to ensure the survival of rural Ireland. Danny said he had previously constructed a new roadway 100m from the Blackwater River in south Kerry and had not harmed any wildlife or designated sites in the process, suggesting the same could be done in Galway with the N59 route. He suggested there should be one design and model introduced for the building of all roads through designated sites.

Danny concluded the meeting by saying if the situation carries on, “the east coast will tip over into the water and end up in Wales”.

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