School washout fears from new motorway

The construction of the Gort to Tuam motorway could result in a South Galway primary school being left under several feet of water.

It has been claimed that the motorway, which runs near Kiltiernan National School, will displace water and pose a threat to the building.

Calls have been made on the Office of Public Works to carry out works at the location to alleviate any threat of flooding. It is said that the cost of the works would be dwarfed by the amount of potential damage flooding could cause.

Parts of South Galway flood on an annual basis. The worst flooding came in 2009 and again damage was caused in the winter of 2013 when water levels rose. Kiltiernan National School is located within 100 metres of lands that flood on an annual basis. The school is located on the main N18 between Kilcolgan and Ardrahan.

Cllr. Joe Byrne said that the construction of the motorway would result in the movement of water. He said that the road project was close to the school in question and now it presented a very real threat come the winter.

He said that there was currently no guarantee that the works associated with the motorway could prevent flooding at Kiltiernan National School – however, he has come up against a brick wall in this regard.

A detailed independent report recommended the provision of flood relief measures in the area but Cllr. Byrne said that these would not be implemented.

The report has been seen and considered by the Office of Public Works, but it is their view that there is insufficient cost benefit in implementing the findings and therefore it was unlikely that they would be implemented in the short term.

Cllr. Byrne said that he received an acknowledgement from Galway County Council that implementation of the works recommended in the report would be beneficial.

“Nobody can determine what the minimal impact will be, but one thing for certain is that flooded water dislodged by the works will have to impact on nearby areas, and the school is within 100 m of recent flood levels.

“Hundreds of millions are being spent on this much-needed motorway, however, it is not deemed of cost benefit to spend a few hundred thousand to alleviate flooding in this part of South Galway and, in particular, ensure a school is not at the risk of flooding.

“There needs to be a joined up thinking approach between the relevant Departments and I am calling on Minister Simon Harris, Minister with responsibility for OPW to give the go ahead to this work,”Cllr. Byrne added.