Ballinfoyle is set to get its long awaited community centre, but there are concerns that the project could be put in jeopardy due to the economic downturn.
At Monday’s city council meeting, councillors granted planning permission for a neighbourhood centre in Ballinfoyle, following a proposal from Cllr Tom Costello. The centre will be built by the Galway City Council in partnership with the St Columba’s Credit Union Ltd.
The centre will have a sports complex, meeting/conference/community rooms, health centre, credit union office, 16 apartments, a café, crèche, and underground car park.
All councillors welcomed the new centre. Fine Gael Cllr Brian Walsh said it was “welcome for the area and long overdue”, but raised concerns as to whether it will prove financially viable given the current economic climate.
He said it will be difficult to find buyers and tenants for the apartments and units now that the “market has collapsed” and he criticised the council, accusing it of “dragging its heels” on the project.
“The development should have been brought to a conclusion much earlier, before the recession,” he said. “Now I fear the whole project is in jeopardy.”
