Galway city's streets will be filled with sound of music until at least September as councillors voted to defer making a decision on draft street performance and busking bye-laws at City Hall on Monday evening.
The plan which was approved in May 2018 by the Galway City Council would prohibit buskers from using amplification until after 6pm along with performers under the age of 16, needing to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
However, the bye-laws have not been implemented to date due to an error in the original text which failed to state a commencement date.
Mayor of Galway city, Mike Cubbard, said his reasoning to ask for a deferral was in order to meet all stakeholders involved in the process.
But Fianna Fáil councillor Ollie Crowe argued that a deferral would be "kicking the ball down the road".
Cllr Crowe said; "[This] has been going on for years. We have all the information now. There were no issues under the SPC (strategic policy committee ) meeting. I believe we should make a decision this evening. I don’t see the point in deferring."
Before the meeting buskers held a busking demonstration outside City Hall encouraging councillors to vote against the bye-laws.
Councillors voted for the deferral with 12 for, four against, and two absent.
