The €1.5 million flood relief scheme for Portumna received a boost this week after funding was secured that will allow the scheme to advance towards design and construction.
The funding has been put in place by the Office of Public Works to enable the Galway County Council to employ the necessary resources to manage the project. According to Galway East TD, and Minister of State for Rural and Community Development, Seán Canney, the project will “vastly improve the town’s flood defences”. He added: “There have been several floods over the past years and work on barriers and sluice gates will help protect the quays and the town.”
Minister Canney has also welcomed further progress on other flood relief schemes in east Galway. The Gort Lowlands scheme is at the design stage; Dunkellin and Claregalway will be completed this year; and the OPW is progressing a major programme of works for Ballinasloe. “Together these projects represent a major investment,” said Minister Canney, “that will provide protection for our communities that have previously been devastated by flooding.”
