Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to debate the issue of flooding in south Galway and along the Shannon Callows. The recent storms and associated floods have caused huge difficulty and hardship for many people residing in these areas. I spoke to a number of affected people who expressed to me they cannot remember any storm as significant as the one experienced in the past two weeks. Only for the fact that some people put measures in place when advised of weather predictions, things could have been much worse in the area.

This week, farmers and householders throughout south and east Galway areas are trying to deal with the fallout of the storms and the deluge of rain which fell over the past two weeks. They are genuinely fearful of the capacity of the weather to cause flood waters similar to the disastrous levels seen in south Galway in particular in November 2009, which destroyed parts of the county and caused much pain and anguish for families living in the affected areas. It was so bad last week that thousands of acres of farmland were under water in the Shannon Callows area because the Shannon rose 6 ft. above navigation level in the second half of December and the early days of January as a result of the storm. In the south Galway areas of Ardrahan, Ballinderreen and Kilcolgan, up to ten local roads were impassable and ten houses came under pressure as a result of rising water levels.

The Office of Public Works has written to city and county managers in coastal counties indicating that it will accept applications under its minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection schemes to repair and build flood defences and coastal protection structures, but this is not enough. The people living along the Shannon Callows and in Ardrahan, Ballinderreen and Kilcolgan need more funding for the repair of flood defences. They need further provision of flood defences and funding now to clean and maintain the Ballinderreen and Kilternan water channel. The problem is that water is not getting to the sea with ease, and without funding for clearing and maintaining this channel the Office of Public Works will not address the problem. Flooding in the area will continue while the Department chooses to ignore it.

People in east and south Galway feel very let down by the Department and are bitterly disappointed. This is understandable, because without taking the measures I have indicated we will not be able to protect family farms or homes in the area and stop the hardship being caused for these people. We need uniformity within the various agencies, such as the National Parks and Wildlife Services, fisheries agencies, the ESB and Waterways Ireland, when it comes to these issues so that somebody is in control and coming up with solutions for the people in the areas I mentioned. We need basic remedial action now and a proactive approach so that we act responsibly as a Government in helping the people living in these areas whose quality of life is dictated by the weather.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, I thank Senator Higgins for giving me the opportunity to address the issue of flood relief measures with regard to flooding problems in the Shannon Callows and south Galway. The Government is addressing the flooding issues at both locations and has made significant funding available to Galway County Council to implement localised measures in south Galway.

Due to the history of flooding in south Galway, and because of its particular geological formations such as karst limestone, the Office of Public Works commissioned a major flood study of the region in 1998. The outcome of the overall study was that while a number of engineering solutions would alleviate some of the flooding problems in the area, none of the proposals were found to be economically viable on the basis of standard cost benefit analysis. In addition, the environmental impacts of some of the proposals were unacceptable, and the OPW could not recommend proceeding with any of the proposals without further investigation. The south Galway steering committee was established to consider what works could be carried out. A review of the south Galway flood study report was completed in 2011 and recommended structural and non-structural proposals. Non-structural measures included planning controls, the monitoring of flows at key locations and refining of the calibration models. Structural proposals included engineering solutions at various locations in the area.

Since the introduction of the Office of Public Works minor flood mitigation and coastal protection scheme in 2009, the OPW has approved funding of €5.8 million to Galway County Council under the scheme, more than a quarter of which, or approximately €1.5 million, has been allocated to projects in the south Galway area. These include projects in Oranmore, Kiltartan, Gort, Loughrea and Kinvara.

With regard to flood relief in the Dunkellin area, Galway County Council, in consultation with the OPW, has appointed engineering and environmental consultants to design a flood relief scheme. The council is being funded by the OPW and will progress the scheme through An Bord Pleanála under the strategic infrastructure legislation. It is envisaged that if a viable scheme can be identified, and on completion of the required environmental impact statement, the proposals will be submitted formally to An Bord Pleanála for consideration. The environmental issues associated with the scheme works are extremely complex, due in part to the geology of the area, and the local authority and its consultants are continuing in their efforts to resolve these issues in consultation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It is anticipated that the scheme will be submitted by Galway County Council to An Bord Pleanála for approval in the next month or so.

With regard to the Shannon Callows, I assure the Senator the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, is very conscious of the serious impact on farming and the environment in the Callows area due to flooding. He recognises that the Shannon Callows is a very important asset to the farming community and the traditional farming practices are recognised as contributing to the economic, social and environmental management of this unique area. In general, flooding arises from the restricted capacity of the River Shannon at this location. Flooding can occur as a result of large flows from either the River Suck or the Upper Shannon from Lough Ree, or a combination of both. The inflow from the River Brosna also contributes to flooding in this area.

The ongoing catchment flood risk assessment and management study, CFRAMS, for the River Shannon involves a comprehensive examination of all the main factors affecting flood risk in the Shannon area and incorporates a full consultation with all of the main stakeholders who have a role in the management of the Shannon, including the ESB, Waterways Ireland and relevant local authorities. Last year, following consultation between the OPW, Waterways Ireland and the ESB, the ESB began a trial reduction of existing target water levels on Lough Ree. This decision was taken to try to help alleviate seasonal flooding in the Callows. This will remain in place until the publication of the flood risk management plan for the Shannon catchment. It will provide for a lowering of the spring to early summer target levels in Lough Ree. By increasing the storage capacity in Lough Ree, this change may somewhat reduce the risk of summer flooding in the Callows.

In addition, and also with the co-operation of the ESB and Waterways Ireland, the OPW has facilitated a water level monitoring exercise as part of the CFRAMS process, which will allow for analysis of water flows and levels at key points around the Lough Ree and Callows areas. I assure the Senator that the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, is fully aware of the flooding issues in the Shannon Callows and south Galway and I assure her that both issues are being comprehensively addressed.

Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for her response. It is a pity the Minister of State responsible, Deputy Brian Hayes, is not here to address the issue I have raised. The reply tells me action is being bogged down in bureaucracy when it comes to dealing with the issue and helping the people of east and south Galway.

I find that regrettable. His speech mentioned funding for repair of flood defences. That is not the answer in this case. The answer is cleaning and maintaining the channels in the river to ensure the water can flow to the sea and not cause any further flooding problems. There was also mention of a cost-benefit analysis and talk about consultants. These are all arguments for doing nothing. These people need action from the Department immediately and there is an onus on the Department and a duty to expedite this. In his speech the Minister said he is comprehensively addressing this issue. If he asks the people of east and south Galway how they feel about that he will find they differ in opinion.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I will bring the Senator's points to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Brian Hayes. He is in the Dáil now and, unfortunately, cannot bilocate.

Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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I thank the Minister.