Call for unity as details of flood funding revealed

Some of the State’s main agencies are to be approached over the coming weeks in a desperate effort to try and resolve the flooding disaster in South Galway.

This comes in a week that saw confirmat that Gort area has received 75% of the special allocation awarded by the Government to address the damage to roads as a result of the flooding. This month’s meeting of Loughrea area councillors was told that €1.14m has been granted for road upgrades in the Gort Engineering Area as a result of recent flooding – out of €1.5m in total across the district and €6m to the county.

But at the same time, around 200 people attended a meeting in Gort to discuss what action to take to avoid a repeat of last winter which left hundreds of acres under water and several main roads closed to traffic.

Recently it was announced that €6.5 million has been allocated for the Dunkellin drainage scheme but there are two other smaller projects that could be completed before the end of the year if funding was made available.

Galway East TD Ciaran Cannon said that it was now time that there was a unified approach to resolving the flooding problem that has bedeviled the Gort and South Galway area for decades.

Deputy Cannon explained that €400,000 was being sought for the Kiltiernan to Ballinderreen scheme with €700,000 required to provide a permanent channel from Cahermore to the sea in Kinvara.

The meeting was attended by fellow Galway East TDs Sean Canney and Anne Rabbitte as well as councillors Joe Byrne, Mogie Maher and Gerry Finnerty.

Local researcher David Murray has carried out an indepth analysis of flooding in each locality made a presentation to the meeting and Deputy Cannon then invited contributions from the floor. He stressed that local knowledge was critical to solving flooding problems across South Galway.

It was agreed that agencies like Galway County Council, the Office of Public Works, the National Parks and Wildlife and Coillte should be invited to a round table discussion to try and resolve the flooding crisis and try and secure the necessary funding.

“In two hours we learned a lot about how we are going to approach this challenge but above all, we learned that if we work together and pool all of our talents and knowledge we will be a powerful force to be reckoned with.

“In the past when the state got involved in major infrastructure projects such as flood relief, locals were never consulted or involved in identifying solutions.

“This time we want to turn that process on its head and we are adamant that local knowledge will form part of the solution. We are also committed to keeping everyone informed of every development along the way”, Deputy Cannon added.

Speaking at the Loughrea Municipal Area meeting, Councillor Joe Byrne said the large allocation for the Gort Area of €1.138m confirms the devastation caused by the flooding in the South Galway area generally.

“The works primarily comprise of making permanent the raising of roads which were temporarily provided during the flooding crisis to maintain roads open where possible,” he stated.

“It will also ensure that the necessary accommodation works are provided to adjoining lands and homes for owners adjacent to the works. Safety mitigation works will be provided by providing crash barriers and the rebuilding of walls.”

Among the projects earmarked for restoration are Ballyboy, Ardrahan €60,00; Loughanawadda, Peterswell €60,000: Caherglaussaun €76,000; Golf Road in Gort €78,000; Mannin Cross €55,000; Tierneevin Area €84,000; Cahermore/Caheravoneen €108,000.

The rest of the allocation will fix damage around Loughrea, Crinnage and Portumna.

Councillor Byrne also confirmed that a second application will be made to the department next week for additional funding.

“I believe that this should focus on roads which have deteriorated as a result of being used as detours during the recent flooding. An example of this is the Ballymaquiff/ Coolfin Road in Ardrahan which has been damaged.”

He welcomed the road restoration and resurfacing of the Ballinabucky Road near Kilcolgan in recent weeks, which cost in the region of €120,000.