Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this evening the matter put forward by Deputy Mc Cormack on the flooding problems in the Claregalway and Carnmore area and the environs of the Clare river. I am pleased to say that during 2010 considerable progress has been made in Galway in addressing the many flooding problems which have afflicted the area over recent years. Following the November 2009 flooding, a joint working group, comprising the Office of Public Works and Galway County Council officials, was set up with the objective of identifying flood mitigation measures for Galway. This group was tasked with assessing the flooding impacts at over 90 locations throughout the county. In light of their assessment, the OPW has provided funding to the local authority in excess of €3 million under the minor flood works scheme in respect of a range of flood mitigation measures at more than 60 locations throughout County Galway. That is far in excess of minor flood relief works approved in any other part of the country.

The joint working group also concluded that given the extensive nature of the flooding affecting Claregalway and the Dunkellin areas, major flood studies were required to identify a plan of measures to address the significant risks involved in these areas. Subsequently, Ryan Hanley consulting engineers were commissioned by the joint working group to undertake the Clare river flood study. The study was published in June this year together with the recommendations of the joint working group, and I discussed this at a public meeting in Claregalway in July.

In essence, they have recommended a major scheme of works on the Clare river as follows. At Miontach south, the access road is to be raised and culvert sizes are to be increased together with some maintenance work on existing drains. At Miontach north, the access roads are to be raised. At Claregalway a flood eye will be installed at Claregalway bridge and the channel will be regraded from a distance upstream to under the bridge. A breach in the wall will be repaired at An Mhainister estate and a local embankment at old Nine Arches bridge will be provided. At Kiniska, the capacity of existing culverts will be increased on the OPW scheme channel and some maintenance works on the channel will be carried out. At Lakeview a surface water outlet downstream of Claregalway bridge will be provided. At Caherlea and Lisheenavalla flood eyes will be installed on Crusheen bridge and the existing channel will be widened for a distance of 900 metres upstream of Crusheen bridge to Claregalway. Islandmore drains, which are located on existing OPW scheme channels, will be cleaned and regraded.

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