Some €2.7 million in State funds which was earmarked for flood relief in south Galway is not going to be spent, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has confirmed.
The sum was part of €3.1 million sanctioned in January 2000 for the region, which was extensively flooded in 1995 and again in 2000.
Heavy rainfall just over a week ago also caused flooding in Craughwell, and forced temporary closure of the N6 Dublin-Galway road.
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) said the lack of expenditure was due to a lack of Government commitment. The Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Mr Tom Parlon, was "directly responsible" for this "national disgrace", according to Mr Michael Kelly, chairman of the IFA's sheep committee in Galway.
He said had the money been spent the recent flooding on the N6 and across several hundred acres at Ardrahan and near Thoor Ballylee in Gort might not have occurred.
The IFA has been active in lobbying for relief schemes since the serious flooding in the Gort area of south Galway in 1995 cost the State up to €12.7 million in emergency measures.
A consultancy study for the OPW was critical of Galway County Council for giving planning permission to new houses built on low-lying land. Some houses had to be demolished and families relocated.
The OPW said yesterday it spent €25 million annually on flood relief works, and was overseeing 10 schemes at various stages around the country.
It confirmed that the Department of Finance had sanctioned €3,174,345 on flood relief works in south Galway in January 2000. The sanction stipulated that " any works undertaken would have to avoid unacceptable environmental consequences, offer a reasonable cost/benefit ratio and fully comply with all relevant legal requirements".
The spokesman said a south Galway steering committee was established, and extensive efforts were made to look at all options for relief works in Termon, Kilchreest, Mannin Cross and further works at Kiltiernan/Ballindereen. However, none were considered viable for economic and/or environmental reasons.
He said that some €406,000 was spent on three aspects of the project - a proposal to replace culverts at Kinvara, carried out by Galway County Council; feasibility works; and exhibition of a proposed scheme for Cregaclare.
He said it was incorrect to suggest that the balance of €2.7 million had been returned to the Exchequer as it had been allocated from existing OPW budgets. The earmarked funds had not been spent.
However, Mr Kelly said the Cregaclare scheme, which did not proceed, would have been central to the relief plans. Farmers in the area had been given "misinformation" about the project due to a lack of real commitment by Mr Parlon, he claimed.
