A list of top priorities for Galway city and its hinterland were presented to the minister with responsibility for planning and local government this week.
City manager Leonard Cleary, deputy mayor Níall McNeils (Lab ), and senior city officials presented Minister of State John Cummins with 12 priority projects approved by elected members.
The infrastructure projects include the N6 Galway City Ring Road, the BusConnects project, the Galway City Flood Defence Scheme (Coirib go Cósta ), wastewater infrastructure improvements, the Clifden Railway pedestrian and cycle bridge, and Galway Port redevelopment.
Housing initiatives include regeneration of the local authority’s Dyke Road carpark site, a new Sandy Road quarter, and enabling the development of Ardaun, east of the city centre.
Funding priorities are elevating Galway’s central funding model to one similar to larger local authorities, piloting a Tourist Bed Night Tax, and creating a cultural infrastructure fund for arts venues.
These priorities reflect the city council’s role as an economic, social and cultural driver of the Northern and Western region, and underpin the necessity of upgrading the metrics for how national government calculates funding for the city, according to a statement from City Hall.
“Nearly 30 per cent of all workers in the Western Region live in Galway city catchment, up three per cent since last Census, with the city playing home to an internationally noted MedTech business cluster and a strong, emerging ICT cluster.
“Galway city is projected to grow by 50 per cent by 2040 to 122,000 people,” it said.
Minister Cummins visited Galway City Hall, and recently completed social housing at the Garraí Beag scheme in Ballybaan More.
Last week, Cummins visited Galway County Council. He is understood to have briefed officials on timelines for almost €70m of URDF (Urban Regeneration and Development Fund ) combined funding for Galway city and county projects.
