Where are the promised public consultations on Galway’s vital flood defences?
This is the question posed by Galway West TD Catherine Connolly after receiving vague indications from OPW minister of state Patrick O’Donovan in the Dáil last week.
Although the original Coirib go Cósta Galway City Flood Relief Scheme was expanded last year to include areas outside the city’s central core, Deputy Connolly (Ind ) says delays to the consultation process are “cause for serious concern, and must be addressed as a matter of urgency”.
Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan (FG ), said the scheme has been under review for over a year due to its increased area. Last week, he told the Dáil that more detail will be published “in the coming weeks”.
The minister could not be contacted for comment as he is currently in Dubai, where heavy flooding has caused major disruption in the desert city.
Connolly pointed out the original timeline given for publication of the revised programme was early 2023, almost one year ago. She said the government needs to show more ambition, and publish the revised plan now.
The original flood relief scheme aimed to protect 940 properties in the Long Walk, Spanish Arch, Eglinton Canal, Merchants Quay, Raven Terrace, the Claddagh and parts of Salthill. It had a preliminary total budget of €9.5 million, with a 2029 completion date.
In 2023, Galway City Council officials indicated the scheme would be expanded to all of Salthill, Ballyloughane, Wellpark and other areas around Lough Atalia. Current, unofficial engineering estimates put these works at around €25million.
The original Coirib go Cósta plan included three public consultation events. To date, only one has taken place, in June 2021. Connolly says Minister O’Donovan confirmed the next consultation is not scheduled until late 2024 – more than three years later during which Storm Debi highlighted the seriousness of flooding across Galway.
Meanwhile, the Galway Advertiser has received confirmation that OPW engineers are looking at a radical revamp of The Prom in Salthill, and improved sea defences for nearby Mutton Island, estimated to cost tens of millions. Protecting the Wastewater Treatment Works on Mutton Island have been categorised by officials as “of national, strategic importance”.
In 2022, Galway City councillors rejected proposals for a €1m, six-month temporary cycle lane along a section of the Salthill seafront, with potential flood defences forming part of the case against the measure.
