Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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38. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on a flood relief scheme for Ballinasloe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38436/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Ballinasloe has a long history of flooding from the River Suck, Deerpark River and other local tributaries. In recent times, significant flooding occurred in November 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2023.

The Flood Risk Management Plan for the Shannon River Basin which launched in 2018, included a recommendation to progress a flood relief scheme for Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. A Project Steering Group, comprising representatives from the Office of Public Works (OPW), as Contracting Authority, and Galway County Council as project partners, is in place to progress the Scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945, as amended. In 2019, the OPW appointed Engineering and Environmental Consultants to complete the design of the Scheme, which will provide protection to 309 residential and commercial properties when complete.

The Scheme is currently at Stage I, which covers the scheme development and design. This stage experienced delays due to additional modelling requirements, delays in completing key surveys and engaging with all key stakeholders. An Options Report for the Scheme was delivered by the consultant in Q1 2025. Following a steering group review of this report an updated version of the report is currently under review. Surveys and assessments are ongoing by the consultants in advance of preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report which is scheduled to commence in Q3 2025.

As part of the consultation process for the Scheme, and in order to raise awareness of the proposed flood mitigation works, a Public Consultation Day was held on the 5th of March 2020. A further Public Consultation to discuss the emerging options for the Scheme took place in Q1 2024. It is anticipated that the Statutory Public Exhibition for the Scheme's design will take place in Q1 2026, to inform the final design option that is submitted for planning consent.

The funding for this scheme is provided from the Government’s €1.3bn investment in flood relief measures under the National Development Plan to 2030. The scheme will seek planning consent, which is currently scheduled for Q4 2026, through the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, as amended.

To date, OPW has approved €2.5m funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for some 40 projects in Ballinasloe which included upgrading culverts and cleaning drains to provide some level of protection in the interim while awaiting the main scheme.