Call for action on flood defences for East and South Galway risk areas

Galway Bay fm newsroom - Households in South and East Galway need urgent funding to develop suitable flood defences to protect the areas from future severe weather incidents.

That's according to Galway Senator Lorraine Higgins who raised the matter in the Seanad calling for a uniformed response from the various government agencies.

Senator Higgins said thousands of acres of farmland in the Shannon Callows area of East Galway were under water following severe storm flooding earlier this month.

She said 10 local roads in South Galway were also impassable with many homes under close threat of flood damage.

Speaking on behalf of Minister Brian Hayes, Minister Jan O'Sullivan said the government is addressing the flooding issues in these locations and has made significant funding available to Galway County Council to implement localised measures.

Minister O' Sullivan said a flood study was carried out on the South Galway area in 1998.

A subsequent review carried out in 2011 recommended a number of structural and non-structural proposals.

A flood relief scheme is also to be developed for the Dunkellin area.

Senator Higgins said action is being bogged down by bureaucracy and said the matter must be expedited.