The townlands of Ballyboy, Caherduff and Ardrahan are situated on the Cregaclare to Monksfield River which flows on to Aggard Stream and outfalls into the Dunkellin River upstream of Rahasane Turlough.
The proposed Dunkellin River and Aggard Stream Flood Relief Scheme will include flood alleviation measures from upstream of Craughwell Road Bridge to Kilcolgan on the Dunkellin River and also include maintenance of the aforementioned channels from Cregaclare to the outfall into the Dunkellin River, including culvert replacement works where existing blocked and undersized piped crossings currently exist.
Galway County Council is acting as Contracting Authority for the proposed flood relief scheme, which is being funded by the Office of Public Works. The Council has appointed engineering and environmental consultants to design the scheme, and is progressing the project under the Strategic Infrastructure Act. I am advised that Galway County Council intends to submit the scheme to An Bord Pleanála for consideration in early Summer. It is not possible to indicate when works can be commenced until the scheme has been progressed through the planning process
It should be noted that the Cregaclare channel and the lower Dunkellin River form part of the Dunkellin Drainage District for which Galway County Council has a statutory maintenance responsibility. Given the recurrence of flooding again at Cregaclare in 2014, OPW will be requesting Galway County Council to proceed, this Summer, with maintenance of the channel from Cregaclare to its outfall into the Dunkellin River in advance of the proposed Dunkellin River and Aggard Stream Flood Relief Scheme works. This maintenance work should significantly reduce the localised road flooding which is occurring in the Ardrahan area at this time.