Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme was the largest study of flood risk in the country, studying the flood risk for some two thirds of the population. Following and based on the CFRAM study outputs, Galway City Council appointed consultant engineers in November 2020 to design an option to protect the city from a significant flood event in the future. The work completed by the consultants has identified that the scale of flood risk in Galway city is much greater than that identified in the strategic CFRAM study.

A revised scope reflecting the additional works for the scheme was presented by the scheme’s consultants to Galway City Council, the leading authority for the scheme. The scheme was originally intended to protect 312 properties. The revised scheme is designed to protect 940 properties. The revised scope includes quay walls that extend from the Galway dock area, including along Long Walk and the Spanish Arch. The properties in the Claddagh area, along Grattan Road and Father Griffin Road will be protected by the construction of a quay wall along the Claddagh basin and Nimmo's Pier. Flood defences along the property line, localised land and road raising in Salthill will manage wave overtopping risks.

Galway City Council submitted a request for additional funding to the OPW for an increase in the fees to facilitate the revised scope, and this was subsequently approved in June 2024. The revised programme was published on the scheme website in January 2025, with the scheme currently progressing with development of the design options.

There will be an opportunity for the public to view and comment on the design options, currently scheduled to take place in June 2025. Thereafter, the emerging preferred option will be significantly developed by the scheme consultants in conjunction with Galway City Council, and it is anticipated that this will be finalised in early 2026.

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