Council slash Galway city parking fees to draw in shoppers

BY FRANK FARRAGHER

Car-parking charges are to reduce in Galway next year by over 20% in an effort to encourage people to shop in the city centre area, councillors decided at last night’s annual budget meeting.

Revised budget proposals – put forward by the Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independents pact – were passed by 10 votes to nil, with five abstentions, and include reductions in both the hourly and daily rates for parking in the City Council controlled car-parks.

The daily parking rate for the Dyke Road, Cathedral and College Road car-parks drops from €5 to €4, with the hourly rate for short term parking coming down from €2.60 an hour to €2 per hour. In addition to that, 230 spaces at the Dyke Road are to be allocated for short-term parking.

Other changes from the estimates proposed in the annual draft budget include the refuse waiver staying at the 2011 level of €250 for homes of low income – it had been proposed to cut that to €159.

The Ironman grant was restored to €25,000, sports community grants changes from €30,000 to €70,000, arts grants come in at €401,000 (€30,000 more than proposed in the draft), Gaillimh na Gaeilge are to receive €50,000 with the Galway City Trust also getting €50,000.

Other spending provisions include €60,000 for toilets at Galway Cathedral, €25,000 for the replacement and maintenance of playground equipment and €50,000 for the promotion and marketing of the city.

To pay for this budget adjustment, spending will be reduced on beaches (€30,000), fire services (€30,000), pension scheme funding (€65,000) while works on Threadneedle Road will be spread over two years.

There will also be increased funding from the Local Government fund and ‘fresh’ income of €80,000 from the non-principal private residence charge applicable to those in the RAS (Rental Accommodation) scheme.

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel