The Office of Public Works (OPW) has rejected an application to carry out drainage works in Galway.

Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East Colm Keaveney slammed the decision and said the recent flooding could have been prevented if proper flood reliefs had been put in place.

He is calling on Minister Simon Harris to urgently review the decision.

Mr Keaveney said: "This is the second time that communities in east Galway have been hit by savage floods.

"The fact that the Government have sat back and allowed this to happen again is nothing short of disgraceful. So far this year, Fine Gael and Labour have underspent on flood relief schemes to the tune of €14.5m so far this year. The OPW refused an application for funding by Galway County Council for the drainage of swallow holes from Grannagh to Blackrock earlier this year claiming that it 'was not possible to adequately determine the benefits that would be derived from the proposed works'. Not only is this unbelievable, it is unacceptable. It is precisely this route that is now submerged under water.

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"This Government has completely abandoned people in east Galway. They are now facing into another lengthy clean-up process in the weeks before Christmas. For many, their Christmas has been ruined. What is most galling is the fact that this flooding was predicted and could have been prevented if the Government had made the money available to carry out the necessary flood works."

(CD)