Treacy Delivers £2.5 Million for Flood Alleviation Measures, in South Galway

Mr. Noel Treacy T.D., Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce, has today (Wednesday 1st December, 1999) confirmed the decision, by his Government Colleague, the Minister for Finance, Mr. Charlie McCreevy T.D., of an extra Allocation of £2.5million in today's Budget, in order to carry out Flood Alleviation Measures, in South Galway.

The Areas in South Galway to benefit from this special Flood Alleviation Scheme are:

1. Ballyglass/Cregclare/Ardrahan Area;
2. Mannin, Craughwell Area;
3. Termon, Gort Area;
4. Kilchreest Area, Loughrea; and
5. Kiltiernan/Ballinderren Flood Scheme Completion Project.

Minister Treacy has to-day, warmly welcomed this excellent decision and praised his Government Colleagues, Ministers Charlie McCreevy T.D., and Martin Cullen T.D., in securing this £2.5 million Flood Fund, for the People of South Galway. Minister Treacy said "For some time now, I have been working very closely with Ministers McCreevy and Cullen to alleviate this very serious problem of constant flooding, in South Galway. I would like to thank them for their co-operation and support and I am delighted that my personal efforts have paid off, by having £2.5 million allocated in today's National Budget."

Minister Treacy said "I am so well aware of the many problems and desperate disruption caused to Family, Farming, Community, and Business Life, which, terrible Flooding has caused over the years. Families have been forced to abandon their Homes, trying to rescue their belongings; Farmland disappearing under several feet of water, Farm Animals being marooned in badly flooded fields, impassable roads, Children unable to get to School, are all issues, which have faced all of the People of South Galway in the past. I know that the Measures announced by us today, will assist in alleviating this situation and improve life for all of our People, in South Galway. The Office of Public Works will receive notification of this Special Allocation this week and the relevant Flood Alleviation Measures, will commence next year."

Minister Treacy commended the very detailed and professional Report on the South Galway Flood Study which was published last year and carried out by the world-famous Consultants Southern Water Global Ltd, in co-operation with the Sligo based consultants Jennings O'Donovan and Partners, and the Office of Public Works. Minister Treacy said "This Study is extremely comprehensive and complex and the reporting of this work, comprises a total of 15 volumes of data, analysis, interpretation, figures, maps, modelling, conclusions and recommendations. The Study is based on two years detailed investigation and observation of the South Galway area, in addition to wide consultation, particularly with the South Galway Region of the Irish Farmers Association. This Study has been of enormous benefit to us in Government in making this Special Allocation in the Budget. "

Thousands of acres of land and hundreds of Homes will benefit from the proposed Flood Alleviation measures, when the work is completed. People Farmers and Property Owners living in the Townlands of Aggard Beg, Ardrahan, Ballindereen, Ballingarry, Ballybacka, Ballyboy, Ballyglass, Ballyguneen, Ballygurrane, Ballylahy, Blackrock, Bullaughan, Caheradoo, Caherduff, Carhoon, Castleboy, Craughwell, Cregclare, Curtane, Derramore, Drumacoo, Fiddane, Grannagh, Greenhouse, Keamsella, Kilaspic, Kilchreest, Kilcolgan, Kilkeedy, Killeenaran, Kilmacduagh, Knocktoby, Lackan, Lavallyconnor, Limepark, Lisnagranchy Loughinwadda, Manninard, Mannin, Milmount, Monskfield, Newpark, Peterswell Pollnagarragh, Rahealy, Rathorpe, Roxboro, Shantallow, Tarmon, Tieneevan, Tunbane, Tyrone, Woodville, and other areas, will benefit either directly or indirectly, from these new measures, when they are implemented.

Minister Treacy stated that he arranged for a South Galway IFA Deputation to meet Minister Martin Cullen and his Officials on May 20th, last. Subsequent to that meeting, Minister Cullen and his Officials, alongwith Councillors Michael Cunningham and Michael Fahy and myself, undertook a detailed visit of the flooded areas, on the 6th July last. We were accompanied by the officers of the South Galway IFA and met with many of the land and house owners, who have been victims of flooding, on a regular basis.

On that occasion, I was able to show Minister Cullen and his Officials the wonderful work done, by the Local People, in the Kiltiernan/Ballindereen area. I convinced him then, that this could be replicated elsewhere and all we needed was the money to do the job. I put clear proposals to my Government Colleague, the Minister for Finance, Mr. Charlie McCreevy T.D., and he has responded magnificently to my personal request, on behalf of the People of South Galway, by including the necessary cash, in this weeks' National Budget.

"I sincerely thank all of the People, that worked and co-operated with me, in this very important project," added Minister Treacy.