Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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282. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 9 September 2020, the reason the flood defence system installed in 2014 failed in the Clifden area of County Galway on 1 and 2 September 2020; if the location was identified by Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme as a flood risk; if so, if the details of same will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24827/20]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Further to my reply to the Deputy in Parliamentary Question No. 111 on the 9th September 2020, the funding allocated in 2014 related to clean-up, repair and restoration works in relation to public infrastructure that was damaged during severe storms in the period 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014, rather than installation of new defence infrastructure. This one-off Government Allocation was specifically in respect of coastal infrastructure nationally, including in the general area of Clifden, whereas the flood event of early September this year was specifically a river flow flood event affecting parts of the town of Clifden and the Clifden Glen area to the east of the town. The locations of September’s flood event are in no way related to the funding approved in 2014.

The 2018 Flood Risk Management Plan for the Erriff-Clew Bay-Blacksod-Broadhaven areas identified a potential flood relief scheme for Clifden, which is currently being progressed by Galway County Council with the appointment of consultants to further develop the proposals identified in that Plan. While the 2018 proposals included the construction of an earthen embankment at Clifden Glen and the construction of a flood wall at the Low Road, the detailed project-level study will review all such measures in light of the recent events.