Frustration over delays to Ballinasloe Flood Relief blueprint
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FLOOD defence delays in Ballinasloe have been described as “absolutely crazy” by Fianna Fáil Cllr Michael Connolly.
Cllr Connolly criticised the lack of progress on flood defences for the town at a special meeting of Galway County Council to review the County Development Plan.
“It has been eleven years of studies,” he said. “Why does it take that long? It is absolutely crazy.”
The Ballinasloe Flood Relief Scheme is an OPW-led project designed to protect the town from recurring River Suck flooding through new defences such as walls, embankments and flow controls, and is expected to enter the planning stage this year.
Officials acknowledged the ongoing delays and said further works are required in Ballinasloe and are under consideration.
The issue was also raised by Cllr Dermot Connolly (SF) at this months’ Ballinasloe Municipal District meeting. He criticised Taoiseach Micheál Martin for not meeting local representatives during a recent visit to the town.
“We could have asked him about the flood remediation scheme, which has been in sharper focus since 2009,” he said.
He also highlighted St Brigid’s complex, which he said has been “neglected for over 20 years”, and questioned why councillors were not given the opportunity to meet the Taoiseach despite their mandate.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.