133. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the Gort lowlands flood relief scheme will commence construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40045/24]

The Office of Public Works and Galway County Council are working together on the development of the South Galway (Gort Lowlands) Flood Relief Scheme with Galway County Council acting as the lead authority. The South Galway (Gort Lowlands) Flood Relief Scheme is currently at Stage I, Scheme Development and Preliminary Design. There has been a significant amount of public and stakeholder consultation with a number of public consultations taking place in 2021, in which Galway County Council and the OPW presented the emerging preferred option. The options report was progressed towards finalisation, subject to the completion of environmental assessments. The proposed South Galway (Gort Lowlands) Flood Relief Scheme might include overland flood routes, construction of direct defences and road raising in some areas. The scheme is expected to provide protection to 115 properties; 50 residential and 65 commercial.

The combination of river water, groundwater, swallow holes and Turloughs in the karst Gort Lowlands catchment makes this area unique from an international ecological perspective. Due to the intricate nature of the Gort Lowlands area, Trinity College Dublin and Geological Survey Ireland have been contributing to the development of the scheme design together with the engineering and environmental consultants for the scheme.

Environmental assessments have been undertaken for the preferred option, with the draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) currently under review by OPW and Galway County Council. The Natura Impact Statement (NIS) is expected to be available for review shortly.