Allocation of additional €150,000 from NRA is final piece of flood solution

DECADES of campaigning for flood relief measures to be put in place in the Ballinderreen area of South Galway seem to have paid off at last with the confirmation that a total of €400,000 has been allocated for the works to be carried out.

An OPW (Office of Public Works) commitment given by Minister Simon Harris to allocated €250,000 for the project earlier this year has now been complemented with a €150,000 amount from the NRA (National Roads Authority).

Long time campaigner for flood relief in the area, Mattie Hallinan, said that the confirmation last week of the €150,000 from the NRA was fantastic news for the area.

He said that while the planning procedure had now to be gone through, everything else was now in place to get the work done that would give peace of mind to many householders and families in the area.

The project will involve the clearing and opening of the drain from Brandy Bay or Harbour at Ballinderreen back to Ballinderreen village and from there back to Kiltiernan.

Down through the years, the National School at Kiltiernan, has had to be closed at periods of high floods while homes also had to be evacuated.

“I suppose that at last we can see light at the end of the tunnel and I want to say a heartfelt thanks to the many people who have helped to bring about this day.

“I don’t want to go naming people individually in case I leave anyone out but an awful work has been done to get this project going,” Mattie Hallinan told the Farming Tribune.

Local School Principal, Edel Leech, told the Farming Tribune that confirmation of the allocation for the flood relief measures was very good news for both the school and local residents.

“I suppose there has always been a fear coming onto every winter about the impact of the floods. In the past, the school has had to be closed due to flooding – it really is great news if this problem is going to be resolved for once and for all,” said Edel Leech.

The NRA contribution comes under the umbrella of related works that are being carried out on the new M18 motorway project that will impact on drainage and flood issues in the area.

On Thursday, Kinvara councillor, Joe Byrne, received official confirmation of the NRA contribution to the project from Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.