I raise the Galway city outer ring road. After a long process, planning permission was finally granted in April, which was welcomed by all, for this vital and much-needed infrastructure. The ring road is not a silver bullet that will magically solve all Galway's traffic woes but it is an essential piece in finally addressing the daily traffic nightmare across our city. Thankfully, the Government has recognised and supported the project and funding in excess of €800 million has been granted.

Unfortunately, a number of judicial reviews have been filed in recent weeks. It is important to note these reviews are being taken by directly impacted homeowners who are well entitled to fully use their legal options. The homeowners have said they would like to engage in talks with the decision-makers and I encourage the Department of Transport to do so. Mediation was used recently during legal proceedings involving the MetroLink project in Dublin and that could help here, too, to limit delays for a vital project. For businesses and communities across the region, further delays would be a significant blow. The ring road should have happened many years ago and the negative impact of its not being built has been considerable. Galway and its surrounds cannot afford for this uncertainty to continue. I ask the Deputy Leader to write to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, requesting his Department examine the matter and agree to meet with affected homeowners.