In 2004, over €8 billion was invested nationally under the National Development Plan (NDP). This brings investment in the first five years of the NDP to an estimated €36 billion nationwide. The NDP is funded primarily by the Exchequer with support from the EU Structural Funds.

NDP investment in Galway includes:-

Construction on N6 Loughrea by-pass started in September 2004. This 3.75 km single carriageway is due for completion late next year. The Bypass will remove an estimated 10,500 vehicles a day from Loughrea. It will prevent bottlenecks on the N6 Galway to Athlone route and will decrease the journey time on the main Galway to Dublin route. The CPO and EIS for the N6 Galway to East Ballinasloe scheme were published during the year and the results of the oral hearing are expected in early 2005.

Over €25.9 million was allocated to non-national roads in Galway in 2004. The funding was designated for work on projects such as the Oranhill Distributor Road; Parkmore Road [phases 1 & 2], R328 Dunmore/Ballindine; R341 Clifden/Balllyconneely; R336 Maam/Leenane and R357 Taughmaconnell Road, Ballinasloe.

Water Services projects completed in 2004 include the Barna Sewerage Scheme Advance Works and Gort Regional Water Supply Scheme Advanced Works.

Galway has benefited from investment in broadband infrastructure, which provides cheap, always-on access to the Internet, vital for business and invaluable for education, health and research bodies. A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) in Galway City was completed in 2004, this 40km network allows access to high speed broadband services to parts of the city and county. This was one of 19 MANS in towns around the country. The second phase of the Broadband Action Plan will see the rollout of broadband to over 90 towns nationwide including Furbo, Clifden, Ballinasloe and Athenry.

Since 2000 over €14 million has been approved for childcare facilities, supports for staffing, capacity building and the general improvement of childcare provision in Galway. Childcare services which have benefited from support include: Tiny Tots, Ballinasloe; Wonderland Community Pre-school, Bishop O’Donnell Rd. Galway; Stapleton’s Childcare Centre, Loughrea and Marian’s Full Day Care Service, Headford and Dún Beag Crèche, Dunmore.

Youthreach projects in Ballinasloe, Letterfrack, Claddagh Quay, Leitir Moir and Tuam offer a programme of second chance education for young people who have left school with little or no formal qualifications. Youthreach is open to those aged 15-20 who have left school early.

The Galway County Enterprise Board paid grant aid of €431,591 in 2004 to promote the development of small and micro enterprises in the county. Notable projects supported since 2000, which have resulted in the creation of new employment and capital investment, include Atlantic Prosthetic and Orthotic Services (APOS )in Kilcolgan; Deisecom Limited in Ballinasloe; Connemara Smokehouse in Ballyconneely; Dunleavy Engineering in Barnaderg and Portumna Marine in Portumna. The CEB continued to support enterprise through the provision of training initiatives and mentoring services.

Rural Transport Initiatives are continuing to provide transport services around the county. Bealach-Connamara Local Transport Partnership cover the areas around Cor na Mona, Carna, Rosmuc, Camus, Carraroe, Leitir Mor, Cashel, Leenane, Inis Mór and Spiddal. South East Galway Integrated Rural Development Ltd. services Abbey, Duniry, Tynagh, Clonfert, Meelick, Eyrcourt, Killimor, Kiltormer, Lawrencetown, Portumna, Derrybrien, Coose, Gurteeney, Woodford, Kylebrack and Ballinakill.

The Local Development Social Inclusion Programme continues to fund the Cumas Teo, Galway City Partnership and Galway Rural Development, which focus on the most marginalised communities in the county. They promote inclusion through actions focused on: job creation, placement and training; participation in education and community development activity designed to help disadvantaged communities take the lead in changing their own communities. Notable initiatives include a national pilot study carried out by Galway Rural Development and Teagasc to establish the categories of family incomes in rural households in five parts of the county.

The Western Development Commission continue to assist projects in the county including Lightstorm Networks, Netfort Technologies Ltd, Metamusic Ltd, 3Touch Ltd InterMed Precision Ltd, Maoiniu Mara Teo (MMT).

Connemara Heritage and History Centre, Lettershea; Castlepark Equestrian, Tuam; Joyce Country Mount Gable Walk, Corr na Mona and Day`s Hotel Health Centre, Inishbofin were approved for grant aid under the Tourism Product Development Scheme.

Harbour Improvement works took place at Kilkieran, Inishboffin, Tir an Fhia and Ceibh na gCasla. In addition, over €67,000 was allocated to Galway Harbour Company to assist in the provision of a foreshore and a new pier for shallow draft vessels. Emergency coastal protection work was carried out at Inisboffin.

Social housing schemes are under construction in Tuam, Gort, Eyrecourt, Williamstown, Glenamaddy, Lettermullen and Clifden. 28 single rural houses are under construction at present.
Voluntary housing projects are underway in Portumna, Laurencetown and Tully. Eight houses are under construction in Corofin and 28 houses in Tuam are due to commence in 2005. In February the newly refurbished Osterley Lodge for homeless women opened in Salthill.

“Significant progress has been made over the first five years of the NDP. As each year goes by we can see the impact of this investment on the ground. Government Departments, state agencies, local authorities, VECs, county enterprise boards, FAS and community groups are all involved in the successful delivery of the NDP at a local level.” an NDP spokesperson said.

The National Development Plan aims to improve the quality of life for everybody by investing in infrastructure, people, industry & enterprise and regional development.

Note to Editor
The figures given in this release are provisional expenditure figures and grant aid approved to December. The final end of year figures (actual expenditure & grant aid approved) will be available in Spring 2005 from the relevant Government Departments.