In the budget for the year 2000 a sum of £2.5 million was provided for special works to alleviate the effects of flooding in south Galway. I established a steering group in January 2000 to bring forward proposals for the most efficient usage of those funds. The group comprises representatives from the Irish Farmers Association, the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Galway County Council and the Office of Public Works. The group has been examining the feasibility of a number of schemes for the following areas – Cregaclare, Mannin Cross, Kilchreest, Termon, Kiltiernan-Ballinderreen and a number of culvert sites in the Kinvara area. The group has met on six occasions to date. The scheme at the most advanced stage of preparation is that for Cregaclare. Documentation for public exhibition of the scheme is nearing completion and further information on cost benefit is also being prepared.
The proposed schemes for Mannin Cross, Kilchreest and Termon all involve transferring large volumes of water adjoining river catchments and accordingly require complex investigation and assessment in order to determine downstream impacts. These areas are being monitored on an ongoing basis by consultants and final project reports on feasibility are awaited. Pending the outcome of these investigations into the feasibility of the schemes, it is not possible to give any commitment to work programmes or definitive timescales for them.