Galway parking income is on the rise as council plans new audit

The latest total is also around 19 per cent higher than the €1.361 million recorded during the first half of 2024.

Director of Services with Galway City Council Patrick Greene said parking revenues were up and rejected suggestions that income was on a downward trend.

At a recent briefing, he said parking revenue can fluctuate due to a range of factors, including seasonal changes and weather events.

He added that they are already ahead on their 2024 figure, which he described as one of “our best years” for income.

Income from traffic fines has also increased, with the council taking in €660,235 during the first six months of this year.

That compares with €508,221.80 between January and June 2025, an increase of almost 30 per cent.

However, this year’s figure is broadly in line with 2024, when €652,760 was collected over the same period.

Sign of the Times:

The figures come as the council prepares to upgrade and revamp on-street parking signs across Galway over the next three to four weeks.

Mr Greene said the new signs would make it clearer to motorists where they can park and the different ways they can pay.

Signs providing information on payment options are to be installed on parking posts around the city.

The on-street signs form part of wider efforts by the council to communicate changes in how people can pay for parking.

Council officials said 42 retailers currently offer the Payzone service, while the number of people paying for parking in shops has increased fourteen-fold since last year.

Mr Greene said significant work had gone into ensuring people of all ages could adapt to the move towards digital services.

The council worked with Age Action, libraries and Active Retirement groups on digital literacy, while front-line staff and parking wardens also provided support on the ground.

Information packs were distributed to B&Bs and hotels, while the council used its website and other platforms to explain the available payment options.

“We used every platform available to us,” Mr Greene said.

He said feedback from motorists had been positive, particularly around the ability to make a one-off payment without having to return to a pay-and-display machine.

A new audit:

The council is also preparing for a wider examination of how kerbside space is used across Galway, which could have significant implications for parking in the city centre.

A company has been engaged to carry out a kerbside audit examining competing demands for space, including parking, loading bays, accessible parking and outdoor dining.

The information gathered will be used to develop a wider kerbside strategy for the city. Mr Greene said the way kerbside space is used in Galway is likely to change considerably as major transport projects progress.

“Our landscape for kerbside, particularly city centre, will change massively,” he said.

He said the audit would provide the council with data to understand the potential consequences of decisions about how to allocate limited street space.

Longer-term changes to parking will also be influenced by the Galway Transport Strategy and projects including Park and Ride and BusConnects.

Meanwhile, he highlighted that a recent survey by the NTA showed that 17 per cent of shoppers coming into the city use Galway City Council car parking options.

The Shopper Survey highlighted that 60 per cent use private car parks and that the trend to sustainable transport is happening.

“The majority of car users park rather than getting dropped off,” the survey said.

“Car users are most likely to park in multi storey locations (60 per cent) with 17 per cent parking on the street.”

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme