Areas affected by the unprecedented flooding last year are to benefit from a series of maintenance and improvement works as the Galway County Council is set to receive nearly €800,000 in funding.
Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW ) Dr Martin Martin Mansergh announced this week that a total allocation of €6.7 million is now available to a number of local authorities across the country as part of the first phase of funding to address localised flood and coastal erosion problems.
Dr Mansergh said: “Following the unprecendented flooding around the country last last year, the Government provided additional funding to the OPW for flood mitigation measures. This has enabled my office to increase the total ammount that can be provided to local authorities for minor works and studies. An initial allocation of €6.7 million has been made for these purposes, compared to total allocations of €2.1 million in 2009. The figure of €6.7 million will be reviewed in the light of the level of applications received from local authorities.
“Based on assessments completed by OPW of applications received from local authorities to date we have at this stage allocated €5.43 million to 12 local authorities for measures to address localised flooding problems in 52 inland areas. In addition, allocations totalling €1.27 million are being made to six local authorities for minor coastal flooding and erosion measures, at eight locations around the country. These allocations will allow the local authorities to proceed with these measures now to reduce the level of risk in the communities involved,” he said.
Galway County Council will receive a total funding of €773,450 in 2010 for various minor works and studies. The breakdown is as follows: Ahascragh - channel cleaning - €45,000; Ballyglunin - channel widening, upgrading culverts - €60,000; Crowe Street, Gort - channel maintenance and camera survey - €36,000; Newtown, Abbeyknockmoy - improvements to piped drainage system - €250,000; Cloonoo, Loughrea - construct new channel - €2,000; Ballydavid, Athenry/Clarin River - channel maintenance, replace culvert, remove weir - €90,000; Ballinasloe town study - study - €9,000; Turloughgarve, Corrandulla - install culvert and construct new drain - €16,200; Ferragh, Caherlistrane - improvements to Corrib Clare Arterial Drainage Scheme - €115,000; Gortbeg, Cahergal, Tuam - improvements to Corrib Clare Arterial Drainage Scheme - €49,000; Caherduff, Gort Road - Clear and reinstate open drain - €5,400; Kylemore, Laurencetown - upgrade culvert - €9,000; Killevny, Laurencetown - open culverts under bridge and construct channel - €4,050; Poolboy, Ballinasloe - upgrade culvert - €19,800. Crowsnest, Laurencetown - upgrade culverts - €9,000; New Inn Village - Regrade stream and upgrade culvert - €31,500; Ballyglass, Kilconnell - regrade stream and upgrade culvert - €9,000; and Rathglass, New Inn - upgrade culvert - €13,500.
