Crossmolina being let down over flood relief scheme

CROSSMOLINA is being let down with the ongoing delay in approving a flood relief scheme for the town.

Deputy Dara Calleary, who has again raised the matter, has been told that supplementary information submitted by the OPW to the department last November is still being considered.

Councillor Michael Loftus hit out: “Crossmolina is again being let down by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when you read the answer to the Dáil question that was placed by Minister Dara Calleary.

“What has one to do to get these people in Dublin see what they are doing to homes and businesses in our community who don’t have insurance, every day and night worrying about rain.

“There is absolutely no reason why this flood scheme cannot go ahead. All the reports have given it the green light.

“I want to thank Dara Calleary for his work on this.”

Minister Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure; National Development Plan Delivery and Reform about the current status of the Crossmolina scheme, what actions have been taken since the submission of the consultant's report to him, and to outline a timeline for progressing the scheme to construction.

He was told that in accordance with the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019, the Office of Public Works has sought consent for the River Deel Flood Relief scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. The department has appointed environmental consultants to carry out the necessary environmental assessments required.

In July 2023, additional supplementary information was requested from the OPW to facilitate reaching a full, reasoned conclusion on the environmental impacts of the scheme. The OPW submitted supplementary information to the department in November 2023.

'This supplementary information is currently being examined by the environmental consultants retained by my department. The supplementary information is being examined in order to inform the reaching of a reasoned conclusion on the environmental effects of the scheme.

'The supplementary information is also being examined in order to determine whether the information supplied is considered to be 'significant' in the context of Section 7.3(c) of the regulations.'