Connacht Tribune

Still waiting on pier repairs – three years after funding approval

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A crucial Inishbofin pier destroyed in storms five years ago has still not even been assessed for repair – even though €90,000 funding was approved for a survey in 2015.

Project coordinator of the Inishbofin Development Company, Simon Murray, acknowledges that repairs to some of the damage caused by the severe storms of December 2013 and January 2014 on the south of the island was carried out under the emergency funding granted at the time.

However, there were significant gaps in the repairs on that side of the island that have yet to be completed. Back then he was urging Galway County Council to carry them out while engineers were on site to avoid escalating costs further.

Locals carried out their own repairs to North Beach, a stony cobble beach between Lough Boffin and Northside Bay which split in two.

The storm water cut a deep trench cut into it allowing the sea to merge into the lake and spill onto the road, cutting off nine houses and flooding one.

As Council workers were stretched in the aftermath of those devastating storms, they decided to act before nature could wreak further havoc.

The Council also did not repair the East End pier built in 1890 which acts as a breakwater to prevent flooding to the 20 homes located here. It was all but demolished by the fierce stormwaters.

“This is a tidal pier used by fishermen but it’s more important as a breakwater for the whole area. Right now, there’s nothing to stop the houses here flooding. We’ve had a few hairy moments over the last few years when big tides and high winds have combined but we’ve been lucky that the wind was coming in the wrong direction,” explained Simon.

Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West Éamon Ó Cuív said it has now emerged that €90,000 was approved in 2015 for a coastal erosion and flood risk management study that was never carried out.

In a reply to his parliamentary question, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Pascal Donohue confirmed that Galway County Council received €1.64 million to repair the storm damage and its programme of works included locations on Inishbofin at the east end and south face shore.

“All funds have now been disbursed to the Council in relation to this programme and I am advised that the Council has undertaken the works on Inishbofin at a total cost of €301,000.

“I have been advised that the OPW approved funding of €90,000 in 2015 under its minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme to Galway County Council for a comprehensive coastal erosion and flood risk management study for Inishbofin Island as a whole, including the issues of concern at the East End Pier.”

Deputy Ó Cuív said the study was essential in assessing whether to rebuild or replace the pier completely.

“The East End Pier provides vital protection to houses in the area and is also needed by local fishermen”, said Deputy Ó Cuív.

“Based on the reply I received from Minister Donohoe, it would appear that Galway County Council has not completed this study or submitted any results of the study to the OPW. This delay is disappointing and I will be pressing that the matter will now be addressed as a matter of urgency”.

At a meeting of the Galway County Council Islands Committee – which met in September after a gap of ten years – Simon raised the issue of the pier.

A lack of resources was the reason given for the study not being carried out.

“We understand that a survey needs to be done so that a cost estimate can be drawn up and a tendering package produced. We would really like this to happen now and not put on the long finger anymore,” he stated.

“After all, islands are a serious economic driver for the county.”

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