Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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301. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to a meeting (details supplied), if he will approve funding for a project; the total projected cost of the project; the time frame for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11514/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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At the meeting referred to by the Deputy, proposals for flood mitigation works at Station Road and East Bridge, Ballinasloe were discussed.

Galway County Council submitted an application to the OPW in 2013 under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for €480,000 for works at Station Road. This application was not approved by the OPW and the delegation requested that this decision be re-considered. I understand that no application for funding has been submitted by the Council in respect of the project at East Bridge to date as the proposal involves work on a protected structure and therefore will first require the approval of the National Monuments Section of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

I explained to the delegation that the current requests for funding must be considered in the context of the very significant funding totalling €1.9 million which has been provided to date by the OPW to Galway County Council under the OPW's Minor Works Scheme in respect of flood relief works in Ballinasloe. This funding has allowed substantial works to be undertaken which will have reduced the flood risk considerable in the town. I indicated that the OPW's core strategy for addressing flood risk in the Shannon Basin is the River Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study and that Ballinsaloe is one of the areas, known as Areas for Further Assessment, being looked at in detail under this study. The Shannon CFRAM study is one of six such studies being undertaken nationally and the output of this important project will be an integrated plan of specific measures to address, in a comprehensive and sustainable way, the significant flood risk factors in the Shannon basin. The recommendations for structural flood measures that will emerge from all the separate CFRAM projects will be prioritised on a national basis and I informed the delegation that it would not be appropriate to give preference to Ballinasloe by committing further significant funding for flood relief works in that AFA pending the outcome of the overall CFRAM work and the national priorities that will emanate from that.

I am satisfied that the CFRAM strategy, which is line with national and EU policy on management of flood risk, is the best way to address comprehensively any remaining flood risk in Ballinasloe. I am cognisant of the great effort and work that the Flood Alleviation Ballinasloe community group has undertaken to date and I indicated at the recent meeting with them that, in light of their presentation on what they consider to be a significant remaining risk in the town, but having regard also to my stated position above in relation to the CFRAM strategy, the application for additional funding would be considered again.