Minister turns sod on flood relief scheme

The sod has been turned on the construction phase of the Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme.

Minister of State for the OPW Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran visited the project site last Friday morning to turn the sod on the €34 million project to future proof Crossmolina from future flood events. Catastrophic floods in December 2015 caused millions in damage to homes and businesses.

It is part of an overall investment of €94 million in flood relief schemes in Mayo, which includes funding of €55 million for the Ballina Flood Relief Scheme.

“I was here back in the day when this beautiful town flooded and I gave the people of Crossmolina a commitment. It took a bit of time to get here but today is a positive day,” said Minister Moran.

“Every seven minutes there'll be a lorry leaving this site, so that will give you an idea of the depth of the challenges here to get this project completed."

The construction and completion of the scheme will now take a further three to four years. Minister Moran said he said there is a perception amongst the general public that bureaucracy delays the delivery of schemes of this nature but delivering these schemes successfully does take time.

“We have one chance to get the design right and that means bringing all of the people together. The townspeople, Council officials and Councillors and nine times out of ten, you get all of that right. But then you have to get your environmental side of things right.”

He said he wished to reassure the people of Crossmolina fearing another catastrophic flood event between now and the time the scheme is complete of support from the OPW team on the ground.

“I want to give the people of Crossmolina reassurance that now I’m at the helm of the OPW, I’ll give 100% support.”

“We have announcements coming in terms of minor works such as river cleaning. We’ll be making a commitment to that and will drive it on with Boxer at the wheel.”