Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
48. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on the South Galway Flood Relief Project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40152/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) and Galway County Council are working together on the development of the South Galway (Gort Lowlands) Flood Relief Scheme with Galway County Council acting as the lead authority.
The combinations of river water, groundwater, swallow holes and turloughs in the karst Gort Lowlands catchment makes this area unique, at an international level from an ecological perspective. Due to the intricate nature of the Gort Lowlands area, Trinity College Dublin and Geological Survey Ireland have been contributing to the development of the Scheme's design alongside the engineering and environmental consultants who were procured to develop a viable scheme design.
There has been a significant amount of public and stakeholder consultation with a number of public consultations taking place, including Galway County Council and the OPW presenting the emerging preferred option. The scheme is expected to provide protection to 115 properties; 50 residential and 65 commercial.
Environmental assessments are currently being undertaken for the preferred option, which involves an integrated mechanism to effectively move water through overflow channels across the turloughs in this area. The nature of these assessments are very specific. These assessments are being informed by discussions with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
The timeline for the planning consent submission is dependent on ongoing environmental survey results and the outcome of the NPWS engagement. Should planning for the scheme be granted Galway County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland will re-engage on the matter of culvert capacity which came to light while the M18 motorway was under construction.
Since 2009, OPW has approved funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme of some €314,000 to Galway County Council for some 9 projects in the scheme's area.
