I thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirleach, for having this motion taken this evening and I thank the Minister for State for coming to the House to deal with it. The Kilbeg/Knockferry Bridge has been a long-running saga in Galway for many years. I raise it this evening because it is time we had a definitive decision from the Government, one way or the other, on this project. The people of Connemara and, particularly, of Headford deserve to know once and for all the exact thinking of the Government on the provision of this facility, which has been promoted in Galway for a long number of years. While I accept the point I am sure the Minister will make that the project is very expensive, when one looks at the impact it would have for Connemara and north Galway, there is no doubt that the cost involved would be insignificant in the long term. We are talking about building a bridge across the narrowest point of the Corrib, which is estimated to cost about £4 million. If the Minister has any better "guesstimates" than that, I am anxious to hear them.
The principal advantage of the proposal is that it would open up a significant part of Connemara to the Headford area. At present people have to drive into Galway city and around the Corrib. This proposal would result in a time saving of one hour for them. Farming in Connemara has been an important industry over the years. In recent years, with the improvement of farming, the need to be able to access the Headford area, where there is a mart and a number of other suppliers, is vitally important and would greatly assist the economic development of agriculture.
Increased accessibility to the Moy-cullen-Oughterard area would be of major benefit to the development of tourism and industry. The decision to proceed with this bridge would result in major economic advantage. I ask the Minister, in conjunction with his Government colleagues, to decide on this proposal at some time in the future. We do not expect this project to be completed this week, this year or next year. It is desirable as part of the national plan to provide this infrastructure.
If the Government made that decision, one way or the other, it would be a start. If it is decided on a cost benefit basis that this project is not viable, then let us have that information. The time has come for the Government, in particular the Department of the Environment, to decide whether it sees a benefit in this bridge being built. If it does, it should say that over a period of years it will proceed with the planning and development of this project. If it does not see the project as being possible, then it should say this to the people rather than giving them false hope.
The question of Galway County Council's late application this year was discussed with the Department by a deputation. Quite honestly, whether the application was in on time or not is not that significant. What is significant is whether the Government wants to build this bridge. If the Minister cannot answer that question tonight — and I accept that he may not be in a position to do so — I ask him to, along with his senior Government colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Deputy Michael Smith, to put that question at Government level. A decision should be taken on whether in principle the Government wants to build this bridge.
