Minister gets feet wet on flood inspection visit

It was somewhat ironic that a Government minister visited some of the worst flood areas in South Galway . . . on one of the wettest mornings of the year. But it proved a rewarding one as the same Minister gave a commitment to providing €250,000 towards flood relief measures in the Kiltiernan area. This is still €120,000 short of what is required to carry out the works, but Minister Simon Harris gave a commitment to liaise with the National Roads Authority in the hope of making up the shortfall. Rain bucketed down yesterday as Minister Simon Harris, who has responsibility for the Office of Public Works, was pressurised by the local community in Kiltiernan to release funding so that a vital flood relief scheme can proceed. The local primary school in Kiltiernan, which is located on the main N18 between Oranmore and Gort came within several yards of being flooding on two occasions in recent years. And the construction of the Gort to Tuam motorway, which runs nearby, is now expected to displace flood waters leading to further concerns for the school and some local houses. Local Fine Gael councillor Joe Byrne met with Minister Harris and said that he received a very positive hearing. He expressed delight at the announcement of the quarter of a million euro. The Minister said that he did not want a repeat of the consequences of the 2009 flooding disaster.