Galway must be ready to take advantage of the rise of research and development industries, but it can only do so when it overcomes the old mentality that industry should only be located on the city’s east side.
This is the view of Independent Galway City West candidate councillor Daniel Callanan. He says that after the next council is elected on June 5, its first task must be to address “the mistakes of the past which saw most of the houses being built west of the Corrib and the industries located on the east side.
Cllr Callanan believes the future lies in research and development industries but that Galway is not doing anything to take advantage of this.
“There are many people out there who I believe are crying out to start new small businesses if the proper structures and supports were put in place,” he said. “Start ups in research and development do not need to be situated on the east of the city.”
While he acknowledges that locating on the east side provides access to primary roads and Carnmore Airport, Cllr Callanan says access to NUI, Galway, located in the west, is “equally important”.
Cllr Callanan said he will be prioritising the support of start up units in Salthill/Knocknacarra.
“The way out of this recession will not be the arrival of large multi-nationals,” he said, “but rather through the growth of large numbers of small enterprises as happened after the closure of Digital. However this time the Galway City Council and the state agencies must put in place the units and supports for the establishment of businesses on the west of the city.”
