Independent TD Seán Canney said he has received confirmation from Minister of State of the Office of Public Works (OPW) Patrick O’Donovan that “further public consultation” with landowners and homeowners will be held in Gort once the Covid restrictions are lifted.

The south of Galway, especially Gort, has been subjected to numerous severe flooding incidents.

The Gort Lowlands Flood Relief Scheme is being proposed, following a feasibility study being carried out.

“At present there is a virtual public consultation but, as this is a very complicated and unique engineering project, it is important that the public can engage fully with the design staff,” deputy Canney said.

Vital that the scheme is progressed

Following a recent meeting between the Gort Flood Relief Committee and public representatives where concerns were expressed about the “lack of engagement on the ground between the design team and locals”, the deputy contacted Galway County Council and the minister.

The extension to the public consultation period will allow for one-to-one on-site meetings with those designing the Gort Lowlands Flood Relief Scheme. 

“The decision to further engage with the public is welcome as it is important that this vital flood relief scheme, which I initiated when I was the minister in charge, is progressed with the support of the local community, landowners and homeowners,” the deputy continued.

“People have suffered so much due to regular severe flooding and I am confident that we now have a scheme that is cost effective and environmentally feasible.”

Once the consultation is complete, the project will move to full design, and then construction, deputy Canney said.

“The construction stage of the project will be divided into separate contracts with the river/stream/flood channels being managed and works undertaken by the OPW directly and the bridges/culverts structures will be managed by the consultants and undertaken by the civil engineering contractor,” he added.