Search Results for 'Declan McDonnell'

If Storm Éowyn was an unwanted guest at Galway City Council’s table, his expensive tastes have racked up a bill so far of almost €15m, and – worryingly – the tab is still open.

Members of the political pact running the Galway City Council were split when it came to raising Local Property Tax in October, but differences were put aside last week when it voted for a 2025 budget including two tax hikes.

If Galway’s City Council members do not hammer out a 2025 budget by midnight this Sunday, December 15, the Minister for Local Government may sack the city’s councillors and replace them with an unelected commissioner instead.

If Galway improves its status to a Tier 4 city, its funding from central government could increase by up to €8.52m per year. Over the lifetime of a 5-year council, this adds up to a hefty €42.6 million – roughly 20 per cent more than Galway City Council currently receives from central government.

In a week when the next president of the USA appointed an official to oversee an expulsion of undocumented migrants, Galway City councillors were celebrating the life of a man who dedicated his to regularising illegal immigrants in America.

Brewing discontent and disagreement within the ruling pact which dominates Galway City Council spilled into the public domain this week, with the mayor forced to use his casting vote to pass an increase in Local Property Tax.

Galway County Councillors voted by 32 to 6 to increase Local Property Tax by 15 per cent in late September, a hike calculated to net an extra €2.4 million income per year for the local authority from 2025.

Independent city councillor Declan McDonnell has welcomed confirmation that work is due to commence on upgrading the road surfaces in McDermott Avenue and Tone Avenue in Mervue.

Public bins cannot be emptied overnight in Galway city centre because local authority staff are fearful of physical and verbal assault by late night revellers.