Pádraic McCormack
Question:116 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Finance the proposals, if any, he has to alleviate flooding in the south Galway area which is causing distress. [2051/94]
Written Answers. - Galway Flooding.
The Commissioners of Public Works are the statutory authority charged with responsibility for arterial drainage pursuant to the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. Since the passing of the Act a number of schemes have been carried out in County Galway. However, as none of the rivers in the South Galway area is included in their programme and as the resources available for arterial drainage are fully committed, the Commissioners are not in a position to undertake works in this area.
South Galway is fairly unique in its geological formation. Limestone in the areas has been subject to a process called Karstification with all its inherent distinctive and unusual features such as swallow holes, sparse and intermittent streams, bare rock, large underground caves and springs and turloughs. Most of the rainfall in this particular area disappears underground shortly after the numerous streams flowing down the Slieve Aughty reach the cavernous limestone where it must flow underground to Galway Bay as there is no surface outlet.
Recent reports prepared by the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Office of Public Works indicate that flooding in the area results from a combination of this geological formation and exceptionally high rainfall. They conclude that any solution to the flooding problem in the area would be likely to prove extremely costly, would have serious impact on the environment and would be difficult to undertake successfully.