Galway City East local election candidate, Shane Forde, has said that if elected on June 7, one of first priorities as a new Councillor will be to have an investigation carried out into the acquisition by Galway City Council of its new Civic Offices at Crown Square.
“A mind boggling €56.6m has been mentioned as the cost of acquiring and fitting out the new City headquarters which seems huge in the context of current Galway City Commercial property values,” he said.
“According to media coverage, the decision to acquire the building was made with very little public consultation or input from elected members.”
Mr Forde said that the public deserve to know if this purchase was value for money as it is going to cost citizens and ratepayers millions of euro per annum to service the loans associated with the purchase.”
“Was an independent valuation confirming value for money carried out? Were alternative buildings considered? Why was the purchase rushed through at the last minute without proper investigation by councillors?
“These are questions that the public are seeking answers to and quite frankly they are entitled to answers. If necessary, the PAC should be tasked with investigating this transaction to ensure value for money was achieved,” he said.
