Further public consultations with landowners regarding the Gort Lowlands Flood Relief Scheme will take place after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Galway East TD Seán Canney said that Minister for the OPW Patrick O’Donovan has confirmed to.him that in person public consultations will be held in Gort after restrictions are lifted.
Concerns were raised at a meeting between the Gort Flood Relief Committee and public representatives over the weekend about the level of engagement between the design team and locals.
A virtual public consultation is currently underway, but Deputy Canney said that it is important that people have the opportunity to fully engage with the design team, due to the “complicated and unique” nature of the engineering project, which is of immense importance to locals.
“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”
“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”.
The results of a feasibility report commissioned by the county council and OPW were released last month, stating the construction would cost €14 million, but deliver €22 million in benefits locally.
The Gort area has a long history of severe flooding, with huge areas of farmland and many homes badly affected by floods in February 2020.
