Galway City Council paid €60,000 for use of school carpark as market
Galway City Council forked out €60,000 to St Patrick’s National School to keep Galway Market operating under Covid-19 restrictions.
It has been revealed that the local authority paid €900 per day for the use of the carpark at St Pat’s in order to allow stall holders to operate in a manner that was compliant with social distancing guidelines up to last month.
Following a question from Cllr Níall McNelis (Lab) at Monday evening’s Council meeting, figures released showed that amounted to €24,800 in 2020 and €35,200 in 2021.
Director of Services Dermot Mahon said measures to combat Covid had increased the cost of running the market normally located in the public area outside St Nicholas’ Church – requiring additional space, wardens and staffing.
“The Council was happy to cover the costs at that stage. We worked very well with the traders’ group who were particularly understanding of the challenge and very compliant regarding queuing and the use of hand sanitiser,” said Mr Mahon.
The Chief Executive’s report for October confirmed that the leasing arrangement with St Pat’s ended last month.
“We are nearing the end of the remaining Covid-19 restrictions and therefore the arrangement with St Patrick’s National School to lease a portion of the school car park will end next month [November]. We started using this facility on May 30 last year and without the support of the school management, our St Nicholas’ Market could not have operated in the interim. The market layout will be revised based on pre-covid locations and the new layout will come into effect from October 23 for the reminder of the year,” stated the report.
Commenting on the cost, Cllr McNelis said he believed it represented good value for money for the added attraction the market provides to the city.
“I think the amount spent is recognition of how much the City Council values the market. The market has survived several recessions and downturns, and now a pandemic.
“It has a huge impact on the city and attracts massive footfall every Saturday,” he said.
The Council has confirmed that none of the money spent on the market is recoupable from Government, but said the Economic Development Section had been able to transfer €25,000 to the Environment Department for the benefit of the market.