With the Budget brought forward by six weeks, the calls have started rolling in for a piece of the ever-decreasing pie. You can't please all of the people all of the time, even in a vibrant economy; it goes without saying, it will be harder still in the current climate for the Government to ensure that everyone is even remotely happy with what they get.

So, with ever-increasing concerns that Galway, or indeed the West, will be left out, or at the least, left wanting, what can we do to ensure that we get our fair share and to keep Galway and the West moving forward?

Undoubtedly we have to be realistic. Something has to give, given the sharp economic downturn. However, we must get our priorities right and straight in our own heads and follow up with a concerted campaign to keep vital items on the agenda.

As usual, it is the business community that seems to be most on the ball, with calls this week to keep vital infrastructure projects on the agenda.

A group of concerned business organisations has called on the Government to push forward with the Galway City Outer Bypass and not let it be a victim of the down-turning economy.

The group, which is made up of Galway Chamber, the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (West Region), IBEC West, Information Technology Association of Galway and the Irish Hotels Federation's Galway Branch, has reiterated its call for the 'urgent construction and completion' of the bypass as part of an overall and integrated traffic and transportation plan for Galway.

The bypass, it says, is fundamental, to removing transit traffic from the city, while the future of tourism and general industry in the Connemara region are dependent on it.

Meanwhile, North and West MEP Marian Harkin has called on the Government to cease its favouritism towards Dublin. Ms Harkin has said the proposed light rail project for Galway City has greater claim on State funds than Dublin's metro if the National Spatial Strategy is to be sustained as a Government policy.

Business groups and local representatives' calls are vital at this time, if Galway is to receive a fair share of the Budget pie. Galway City currently receives less local government funding than Limerick and Waterford, despite having a bigger population. We have to fight our corner to reverse this trend.

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