Following that meeting on Monday, and an early morning tour of the new Mervue HQ for journalists, nearly all councillors voted to approve an historic €60 million, 30-year loan at their July plenary meeting. This will pay for some of the fit-out of Crown Square, but there will be plenty left over for other capital projects.
How exactly monies will be divvied out was obscured, as officials say they do not want to reveal their hands too early before tender processes begin.
These projects include area plans for Renmore, South Park, Kingston and Woodquay, upgrading sports facilities in Renmore, Doughiska and Millars Lane, extending the city museum, and sorting the very expensive mess made by Storm Éowyn.
The storm’s legacy – six months on – is that some neighbourhoods in the east and west sides of the city are still without street lighting. The message from officials to councillors was: if ye do not sanction this loan, with an attractive 3.3 per cent interest rate, these residents will literally be left in he dark this winter.
After debating some proposed amendments, including widely derided suggestions from Alan Cheevers (FF ) that the loan application motion should include reference to footpaths, all councillors voted in favour, except the two Social Democrats, and Councillor Peter Keane (FF ).
Alan Curran and Eibhlín Seoighthe had reservations on how the loan proposal, originally floated at €50million, was communicated to councillors, so they voted against, despite welcoming a capital expenditure fund in principle. Councillor Keane, because he was attending virtually, was marked absent after frantic phonecalls to get him to raise his digital hand, failed.
There was much talk about why Galway City Council did not move to Bonham Quay by the docks (it was up for rent only at €40/sqft, never for sale apparently ), and concerns about how a 630-strong workforce will fit into its new office with only 340 desks. Hot-desking is the answer, although after a tour of the impressive building, is does seem a lot of space has been put aside for... um... eating.
Crown Square is exceptionally well insulated, and the solar gain through its acres of un-openable windows made it exceptionally warm, even early on an overcast morning. Trades unions are gunning for a bus from town to Mervue as part of their consent to the 2026 move, but investing in industrial air con might serve their members better. It was sweltering.
Frank Fahy (FG ) revealed that the foundation of the 1980s building they sat in was reinforced to take an extra two or three storeys, but it is too late now. Councillor Helen Ogbu (Lab ) asked the killer question, gently enquiring what the local authority intends to do with its four acres on College Road after the move to Crown? Well, there will be a masterplan drawn up, replied officials, after there was much murmuring about selling it (apparently it is worth “tens of millions” ), or transforming the place into long-desired cultural infrastructure, like a library or gallery.
There was even a mention of building a new city hall, on the site of the old city hall, once City Hall outgrows its new, new city hall in Crown Square City Hall. Try saying that quickly. But the very concept of debating City Hall 3.0 appalled everyone present, and Mayor Mike Cubbard (Ind ) thankfully moved things along.
Councillor Clodagh Higgins (FG ), well positioned with the portable air conditioning unit blowing her hair wildly like a warrior princess as she launched a barrage of questions, spoke for many when she said “the fall in value of Crown Square [from €36m to c€28m] adds to unease to about accountability”. Her party colleague, Shane Forde, however, had to withdraw his comments about “dirty deeds” which sailed close to upsetting nearly everyone in the room.
City officials explained €1.58m has been spent on hiring barristers, surveyors and other professionals for the due diligence aspect of purchasing Crown Square, and that a 3 per cent discrepancy between current valuations from two prestigious surveyors was tiny, and normal.
Accountant-cum-councillor Eddie Hoare (FG ) pointed out delays associated with the Crown move have actually cost Galwegians a further €3.15m in interest payments and rent for unused car parking spaces.
It was ultimately probably Councillor Mike Crowe (FF ) who changed the tone of the debate, with his declaration that he inherently “trusts the current executive” which gained nods of approval around the chamber. Sixty million quid is a lot of money for a city that costs just over €100m to run each year.
Now let us see what they do with it.
