Flood relief and prevention works, due to take place in Claregalway, will be able to proceed following the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform signing off on the environmental review for the Clare River Flood Relief Scheme.
The OPW completed its consideration of an independent report evaluating the Environmental Impact Statement for the flood relief scheme, and as the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, has signed off on the EIS, the OPW now has clearance to proceed with the remaining works.
Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin will formally publish the decision and will provide information for the public on the process followed to enable the works to proceed.
The news has been welcomed by Fine Gael Galway West TD Seán Kyne, who said the works will “provide reassurance to householders, businesses, and the wider community” in Claregalway. Independent Galway West RTD Noel Grealish also welcomed the development, but stressed the importance of local people being given full information on the implications of the works and the effects the might have.
“I am asking the Office of Pubic Works to hold a public consultation event in Claregalway as soon as possible to explain what exactly the work will entail and how it might affect people,” said Dep Grealish.
The scheme primarily involves road raising at Miontach North and Miontach South; selective accelerated channel maintenance from Lough Corrib to Cregmore Bridge; increase the capacity of culverts at various locations on the Kiniska and Islandmore tributaries in conjunction with channel maintenance; construction of a pipeline/open channel combination from the Carnmore and Cashla areas to Islandmore channel and from the Lakeview area to the Clare River upstream to Claregalway Bridge; channel widening of Crusheeny Bridge; construction of two embankments, one at the Old Nine Arch Bridge, and the other upstream of Crusheeny Bridge to the Islandmore drain.
The OPW has already spent €2.5 million of the €7.1 million allocation for relief works, which included the construction of a flood eye at Claregalway bridge, the construction of a new bridge at Crusheeny, and the use of two long-reach machines to remove silt from the bends of the channel and upstream on the Clare River.
