Galway County Council is set to take the first step towards providing a flood relief scheme for farmers and homeowners in the south Galway area.

There have been repeated episodes of serious flooding around the Gort and Kiltartan areas of the county in recent years, with more flooding occurring in February of this year.

As reported by the Irish Farmers Journal, one farmer in Kiltartan had over 50ac of his land flooded earlier this year.

The proposed flood relief scheme is understood to be both environmentally acceptable and cost-effective.

The first step towards the scheme is a feasibility study, which has been delayed but has given farmers hope that the works will prevent future flooding for those living in the area.

Engineering solution

Seán Canney, Independent TD for Galway east, said the report has an engineering solution for the flooding scheme in the Gort area.

“There are now no barriers to the scheme moving to the next stage where it will be designed and options [put on the table].

It’s the first time there has been a positive feasibility study

“Farmers in the area have had to live with stock relocation in the depths of winter and the stress of flooding. I don’t know how, mentally, they coped with it,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal.

David Murray of the South Galway Flood Relief Scheme Committee told the Irish Farmers Journal that the report is a very important step for south Galway.

“It’s the first time there has been a positive feasibility study. It’s good news. We are in uncharted territory and we must continue until we get a flood relief scheme.

“We have to make sure we keep that in focus. It’s the first real hurdle we needed to get over. It can now go ahead to a public consultation, a preferred solution, an environmental impact assessment and then ministerial approval,” he said.

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