Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 April 2026
24. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the Galway City (Coirib go Cósta) flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27490/26]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW), is funding one staff member in Galway City Council to lead the delivery of the Galway City (Coirib go Cósta) Flood Relief Scheme. The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, the largest study of flood risk in the country, studied 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 events in the future, including from climate change.
The initial assessment of flood risk by the consultants identified that the scale of flood risk in Galway City is much greater than that identified in the strategic CFRAM study. This resulted in further assessments, including from coastal risks that highlighted a requirement to provide significantly more defences across the city than initially anticipated through the CFRAM study. A revised scope reflecting the additional works for the Scheme was presented by the Scheme’s consultants to Galway City Council. The Scheme was originally intended to protect 312 properties, whereas the revised Scheme will be designed to protect some 1,079 properties.
The Council submitted a request for additional funding to the OPW for an increase in consultancy fees to facilitate the revised scope, and this was subsequently approved by the OPW in June 2024. The revision impacted on the programme for the scheme's delivery and a revised programme was published on the scheme website in January 2025.
Public Consultation Days took place on 17th and 18th June 2025 to present viable options for all areas of the scheme. Feedback from those events has been taken into consideration by the consultants when developing the emerging preferred option which will be presented to the public in the coming weeks.
The Council has advised that due to the scale and complexity of this scheme, that the planning documentation will require significant surveys and assessments to support Natura Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Assessment Report, for the scheme's options. It is estimated that submission for planning will occur in 2028.
The project's website, www.floodinfo.ie/frs/en/galway/home/ provides updates on the scheme's progress.
