Galway County Council, Galway City Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII ) welcome the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant approval for the N6 Galway City Ring Road (N6 GCRR ).
The N6 GCRR is a core component of the wider transport solution for Galway City and County, complementing BusConnects, ongoing rail enhancements, Active Travel and the continued delivery of other major transport initiatives under the Galway Transport Strategy (GTS ).
Galway County Council, Galway City Council and TII recognise that the prolonged planning process associated with the N6 GCRR has been very difficult for home and property owners affected by the proposed route.
Galway County Council, Galway City Council and TII will now proceed, following a detailed review of An Coimisiún Pleanála’s decision, to the next phase of the project. The Enabling and Procurement stage includes the progression of detailed design, preparation of contract documentation and the procurement process.
Galway Chamber urges rapid move to next phase after Ring Road approval
Galway Chamber has called for immediate progress on the N6 Galway City Ring Road after An Coimisiún Pleanála approved the project, warning that any further delay would undermine the region’s economic prospects.
The Chamber, which represents 500 businesses employing 30,000 people in Galway city, said congestion is continuing to damage productivity, investment and quality of life.
Chief executive Karen Ronan said the decision marked an important step but insisted that Galway “has waited long enough”.
“This project has been discussed, delayed and debated for years while congestion has continued to worsen, impacting our economy, our environment and the daily lives of people across the region. The time for delivery is now,” she said.
Ms Ronan said the Ring Road would not solve Galway’s traffic problems on its own but was “a central part of a multistrand approach”, with BusConnects, expanded rail services and investment in cycling infrastructure all required to tackle the city’s transport challenges.
She also warned that the project “cannot afford to be beset by additional legal and administrative delays that have affected it since the outset” and urged Galway County Council, Galway City Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to move without delay to the detailed design and procurement stage.
The Chamber said the Ring Road remains essential to unlocking economic growth and restoring Galway’s competitiveness as a regional and international investment location.
It said the project must now be treated as a national priority and aligned with the State’s commitments to balanced regional development under the National Planning Framework.
“This is not just a Galway issue. It is a national economic issue. If we are serious about regional development, then projects like the Galway Ring Road must be delivered with urgency and accountability,” Ms Ronan said.
The Chamber said it will continue to work with Government and local authorities to ensure the project advances without further delay.
Minister of State Noel Grealish has hailed the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála to give the green light to the N6 Galway City Ring Road project as a victory for common sense and vital to the future of Galway and its people.
The Galway West Independent TD said that the priority now was to get the project off the ground as soon as possible – and he expressed the hope that there would be no further legal challenges to the 18km orbital route stretching from the end of the M6 motorway at Coolagh to a point west of Barna village.
“There can be few infrastructural projects that have ever gone through such rigorous examination as the Galway City Ring Road – every aspect of it has been put under the microscope and the highest planning authority in the land is satisfied that it meets all environmental and other standards,” he said.
“It is a project that I have campaigned for tirelessly down the years and I have left my colleagues in Government under no doubt as to its importance to the people of Galway.
“More than €1 billion has been set aside in the revised National Development Plan for the road, which means that the money is there, specifically set aside, and that will mean there will be no delay whatsoever in relation to funding.”
Minister Grealish said that speedy advancement of the huge road project was vital not only to the people who have to endure endless traffic jams on the city’s current roads network, but also to the people whose houses have been pencilled for demolition.
“These people whose houses are to be knocked or bought have been living in a terrible state of limbo for more than a decade, unable to move to a new home and make a fresh start – it has been a terribly traumatic time for them, this endless waiting.
“I would hope that at the very earliest stages of moving the ring road project forward to construction, that negotiations are completed as soon as possible with these families and individuals to help them move on with their lives, which have been put on hold for far too long.”
The Galway West TD said that speedy progress was also vital to the economic future of Galway.
“It’s not just the roads that have been choked with traffic – and we all know about the ranking of Galway as the 71st worst city for congestion in the world, with drivers here losing 62 hours of their lives stuck in traffic jams here last year, and the huge toll that takes on people’s quality of life.
“But there is an economic impact too, that has affected Galway’s ability to expand employment – with companies deciding not to locate here for that very reason and other companies with a presence here opting against expanding their workforce in the city.
“Shops and other businesses are suffering too, with potential shoppers from around the county and from neighbouring counties choosing to bring their business to Limerick, Athlone, Castlebar and other towns instead.
“I am absolutely delighted that the ring road has finally been approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála – their decision is quite simply a victory for common sense and I know the vast majority of the people of Galway fervently hope that the project moves to construction as soon as possible.
“We have spent well over €40m on trying to get a bypass of Galway City over the past quarter of a century, hopefully now this is the final chapter in a long-drawn-out saga,” added Minister Grealish.
Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has warmly welcomed the decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant planning permission for the Galway City Outer Ring Road, describing it as a significant milestone for Galway and the wider region.
Welcoming the decision, Minister Canney said: “This is a really important and positive step forward for Galway. The Outer Ring Road has been talked about for many years, and to now have planning permission in place brings a much-needed level of clarity and momentum to the project.
“This is a major piece of infrastructure that has the potential to transform traffic movement around Galway, reduce congestion, and support the future growth and development of the city and surrounding areas.”
Minister Canney acknowledged the long history of the project and the impact on local residents: “It’s also important to recognise that this has been a long and difficult process for some. There are people and families who were first notified almost 20 years ago that their homes could be impacted by this project.
“We need to keep those individuals to the fore as we move forward. Clear communication, fairness and respect will be essential as the next stages of the project progress.”
The Minister also highlighted the strong backing for the project at national level: “The Government is fully supportive of this project, and funding has been provided for it under the National Development Plan Sectoral Plan for Transport. That commitment is crucial in ensuring we can now move from planning to delivery.”
While welcoming the progress, Minister Canney emphasised that continued work is needed to address transport challenges within Galway City: “This is a hugely positive development, but it is only one part of the solution. We need to continue looking at how we improve traffic circulation within Galway itself.
“That includes keeping options like a light rail system for the city on the table, alongside other measures that will make it easier for people to move around safely and efficiently.”
Minister Canney concluded: “Today’s decision is a major milestone, and one that will be welcomed right across Galway and the region. The focus now must be on progressing the project in a way that delivers for the region.”
Senator Seán Kyne, Fine Gael’s candidate in the Galway West bye-election said, “This is a historic day for the people of Galway city, Connemara and the west of Ireland. This approval has been a long time coming and I know how much it means to the thousands of people who sit in gridlock every day while trying to get to work, bring their children to school or make a hospital appointment on time.”
The 18-kilometre route will run from the M6 motorway in the east of the city to west of the village of Bearna and includes a new crossing over the River Corrib. It is set to be one of the most transformative pieces of transport infrastructure ever delivered in the west of Ireland.
“Today’s decision by An Comisiún Pleanála is a culmination of years of relentless lobbying at the highest level of Government. I have been fighting for this road throughout my political career as a TD, Minister and Senator,” he said.
The Government has committed over €1bn to the ring road under the revised National Development Plan, ensuring the project can move to construction without delay.
In the years since the original quashing of the decision in 2023, annual funding allocations have continued which allowed design, legal and planning works to continue.
Senator Kyne says for the people of Galway city and the surrounding areas; the ring road means far more than just a reduction in commuting times.
“Communities in the west of the city, including Maigh Cuilinn, Bearna, Na Forbacha, An Spidéal, Oughterard and across Connemara will have reliable connection to employment, healthcare and education without having to navigate one of the most congested roads in Ireland.
“This project will also free up road space in the city centre for public transport and cyclists, while also unlocking the Galway BusConnects programme.”
Senator Kyne now says the Government needs to build on this momentum and get shovels in the ground:
“The people of Galway have waited long enough and with over €1 billion already committed, there’s no excuse it’s time for any further delay. It’s time to get building.”
The Mayor of Galway, Councillor Mike Cubbard, has welcomed the decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant planning permission for the Galway City Ring Road.
He said that, after a prolonged period marked by legal challenges and planning delays, the approval represents a significant milestone for the region.
“The Ring Road is one of the largest and most important infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Galway and will bring benefits not just for the city, but for the county and the wider west of Ireland,” he said.
Councillor Cubbard noted, however, that the project alone will not resolve Galway’s long-standing traffic issues. He said that, alongside initiatives such as BusConnects, active travel investment and increased rail capacity, the Ring Road will play an important role in improving overall transport in the city.
“The Ring Road is not a silver bullet for our city’s traffic congestion issues,” he explained. “While this project will help to remove some traffic from the city and greatly improve connectivity between east Galway and Connemara, we must continue to introduce further measures to encourage a shift towards public transport.”
He added that improving bus and rail services is essential, warning that traffic congestion and limited public transport options are currently acting as barriers to business investment, retail activity and tourism.
