Sinn Féin Councillor Cathal Ó Conchúir is calling on the government, Fáilte Ireland and Galway City Council to rectify what he says is the “ludicrous situation” that has seen the Tourist Office in Salthill closed for the past few years.
He said last evening that after much investigation of the issue he has discovered that most of the difficulty with reopening of the building results from the fact that the site is owned by Galway City Council while the actual building is owned by Fáilte Ireland.
“Galway City Council has made numerous attempts to come to an agreement with Fáilte Ireland to resolve this madness but there has been no satisfactory reciprocal response.
“Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Galway West-South Mayo general election candidate, is bringing this issue to the houses of the Oireachtas to find out why Fáilte Ireland is not giving a Céad Míle Fáilte to Galway City Council,” he said.
Cllr Ó Conchúir said that at a minimum, this facility should be open during the summer months.
“Many entrepreneurs have come to me suggesting exciting, innovative ideas for the building. With a little imagination it could double up as aTourist Office as well as a venue for various events and enterprises.
“I am calling on Tourism Minister Michael Ring to investigate this unbelievable situation immediately so that an important tourist venue such as Salthill and its environs can be enhanced by having a proper information outlet.”
