As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects, including the N6 Galway City Outer Bypass, are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
The main part of the Galway City Outer Bypass scheme was approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2008 but cannot proceed as this approval was the subject of judicial review proceedings which have culminated with a referral by the Supreme Court to the European Court of Justice of the question of the correct interpretation of Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive and of Regulation 30 of the Habitats Regulations 1997.
The Habitats Directive forms part of Irish Planning legislation which comes under the remit of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. This case will be progressed in accordance with the normal procedures and it is not a matter in which I have any role. More generally, it should be noted that I am currently organising a roundtable meeting with the various public authorities involved in this project.