After a four year campaign, land occupied by the vacant tourist office in Salthill is to be transferred back to the Galway City Council, following confirmation from Fáilte Ireland that it no longer intends to staff the building.
The news has been welcomed by Independent city councillor Donal Lyons, who had asked City Hall to consider initiating legal proceedings in seeking the return of the site from Fáilte Ireland. However this week’s development means such measures will not be called upon.
“It now appears Fáilte Ireland is prepared to transfer the site back to the city council without recourse to legal action,” said Cllr Lyons. “The site has great potential and it is very important a tourist related attraction be placed on there without further delay.”
City Hall granted a long term lease for the use of the site located beside the Aquarium, to Fáilte Ireland, on condition it was used only as a tourist office. The building is owned by Fáilte Ireland, and functioned as a tourist office for a period of time. However it has been empty for more than five years.
In 2012, Cllr Lyons demanded staff be employed at the Salthill Tourist Office for that year’s coming holiday season. The motion added that if Failte Ireland did not agree to this, the council should “immediately cancel the land lease agreement with Failte Ireland” as the lease is “not being honoured” and arrangements should then be made for the “immediate transfer of the said land” back to council ownership. His notice of motion on this was agreed unanimously by city councillors.
In 2013, City Hall sought expressions of interest for the site. A proposal from the Galway Atlantaquarium for the provision of a penguinarium was considered to be compatible with the recreational and amenity zoning on the lands. Failte Ireland also welcomed the proposal.
