Mr. Tony Smyth:

For minor works, we simplify the cost benefit to several criteria. We put a value on damage to a house which is flooded of €25,000, a house threatened by flooding of €10,000, and a commercial premises of €30,000. These then accumulate depending on the number of houses and so on that flooded. There are other elements such as land flooding, delays to journeys and so on. The damage prevented by a scheme is then computed against the costs of doing the works.

In south Galway, the works we can do are environmentally constrained as the area is environmentally sensitive. We are waiting for Galway County Council to look again at the proposals for flood relief in the environmental context and come back with another proposal because it does not stack up on a cost-benefit basis. In other words, not enough damage will be prevented against the cost of flood relief works.