Príomhfheidhmeannach
Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe
As we approach the end of one of the most difficult and challenging years in our history, on behalf of Galway City Council, I would like to wish each and every one of you a very enjoyable, healthy and safe Christmas and I sincerely hope that 2021 will be a great year for all of us and for Galway City.
I recall the pride we all had at the beginning of 2020 when we were given the opportunity to showcase our city and region to the world as the European Capital of Culture. COVID-19 dented that opportunity. However, throughout history the people of Galway have always shown resilience, energy and positivity in the face of past adversity. I have little doubt that our collective pride at the beginning of 2020 will manifest itself in the coming year and in the years ahead as we deliver what will be necessary in Galway to grow our city to become the regional capital and the economic driver on the west coast of Ireland that we all wish Galway to be.
Tá an Nollaig buailte linn agus tá doirse agus fuinneoga go leor gnólachtaí a bhí dúnta le linn shrianta Leibhéal 5 ar oscailt arís. Tá daoine ag caitheamh airgid agus tá siad ag tacú le gnólachtaí agus poist áitiúla.
Christmas is almost upon us and the doors and shop windows of many businesses that were closed during the Level 5 restrictions are back open. People are spending money and supporting local businesses and jobs.
Wide range of supports
Despite the Christmas trade, 2020 has been a very difficult year for many businesses in our city. Galway City Council has provided a range of supports to businesses to help keep them afloat through restrictions and reduced trade. Through our Finance department, we have provided €17.5m in Restart grants, with a further €1.7m waiting to be processed. Our Local Enterprise Office has also offered trading online vouchers and business continuity vouchers. The local authority has given a Commercial Rates waiver to eligible businesses, including the vast majority of SMEs, for the 9 months since the pandemic took hold, supported by a €900 million special funding allocation from the Government.
Financial assistance is one side of our business support. Enabling trade in a safe and responsible environment is the other. We’ve worked with the business community to re-imagine and design our towns so that citizens feel comfortable and safe whilst shopping and going about their business. We have three areas of focus:
providing safer public spaces for business and communities
helping businesses to trade, by facilitating click-and-collect areas and ‘pick-up and delivery’ services, permitting increased opening hours and waiving licence fees for on-street furniture
activation measures to help keep people safe, such as collaboration with the arts sector to enliven public areas
The already strong relationship with our businesses has been deepened on the back of strong cooperation from them to ensure appropriate communications and public signage on adherence to public health guidelines.
The New Year will, of course, bring many of the same challenges for businesses that they have faced throughout 2020. The first quarter of any year is often challenging for businesses. We will continue to respond to requests from the hospitality and retail sector for ways to accommodate increased consumer demand. Local tourism will also be important during the first part of 2021. The council is working with the sector to identify and utilise opportunities for collaboration, including promotion of destinations to attract domestic tourism .
Creative community
Enabling people to enjoy the arts in a safe way is also important. To this end we will continue to work with the creative community to see how the arts can be enjoyed by all in our community.
Whilst the economy will continue to need support, the same is true for our citizens and communities. At the end of March we established the Galway City Community Call Forum with stakeholders from across the public, community and voluntary sectors.
Since then we have provided a helpline to co-ordinate a response to those in need of social or practical supports because of their circumstances during the pandemic. This has included the delivery of food, groceries and medicines and other services to those who have needed them. We have also provided support for those experiencing isolation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, the helpline has received almost 800 calls. Our helpline remains open to those who need help, those who know someone who needs help, or those who want to volunteer and provide help.
The Community Call Helpline can be contacted at: 1800 400 150
This new service is being provided alongside our regular day-to-day services that are offering people ways to relax, learn or be creative amidst the current challenges. During the period of the pandemic the Council’s staff had to adapt to new ways of working whilst continuing to provide the wide range of services to the citizens without interruption e.g. parks services, road maintenance, litter management.
Our library service is one example where local authorities had to adapt and be innovative. This year, due to restrictions such as the closure of our libraries for parts of the year, we introduced rapid changes to service delivery. We have promoted our eLibrary services like eBooks, audiobooks, online newspapers, magazines and e-learning courses, which all library members can access.
Role of the elected members
Central to the Council’s work this year have been our elected members. They have worked hard with staff and different sectors such as the business community to produce solutions and supports for the times we’re in. They took difficult budgetary decisions after careful scrutiny of the options. Like all staff in the council, they too have had to adapt their work practices to keep the show on the road. Councillors can now attend Council meetings online.
2021 will undoubtedly bring many challenges to the communities and businesses of Galway City. But it will also bring new opportunities for the Council to work with businesses, organisations and communities to find new ways to protect our citizens and local economy, for the times we’re in, and beyond.
Níl aon dabht ann ach go mbeidh dúshláin amach roimh phobail agus gnólachtaí Chathair na Gaillimhe i 2021. Mar sin féin, beidh deiseanna ann don Chomhairle oibriú le gnólachtaí, eagraíochtaí agus pobail le bealaí nua a aimsiú lenár saoránaigh agus an geilleagar áitiúil a chosaint san am i láthair agus amach anseo.
Guím Nollaig mhór mhaith oraibh ar fad agus gach dea-ghuí don Athbhliain.
