Almost €400,000 income loss from Galway parking after transition to app payments
Galway City Council recorded a drop of almost €400,000 in parking revenue during the second half of 2025 after moving away from pay-and-display machines and introducing an app-based payment system.
Figures seen by the Irish Independent released under the Freedom of Information Act show parking income fell by €381,467 between July and December 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.
Revenue from parking charges dropped from €1,886,233 in the latter half of 2024 to €1,504,766 during the same period in 2025, representing a decline of just over 20pc.
Income from parking fines also fell by €14,509 during the period.
UTS Technologies managed the city’s pay-and-display parking network from 2018 until 2024, when its partnership with Galway City Council came to an end as the local authority sought a new operator.
In early 2024, Galway City Council issued a new tender seeking out technologically improved machines with added security. This included 4G technology with tap function.
The council awarded the tender to an alternate company in June 2024 which triggered UTS Technologies to begin a judicial review. UTS Technologies claimed it met both the technological and budgetary requests of Galway City Council.
The case was subsequently settled out of court.
Galway City Council launched its parking app in December 2024 as parking machines across the city were progressively taken out of service.
Lorcan Allen of Keating and Associates, a consultancy firm which counts UTS Technologies among its clients, told the Irish Independent he believes the reduction in revenue was linked to the removal of meter payment options.
At this time, payment can be made through the app or via Payzone retailer in nearby stores. Both options have raised concerns over accessibility for older and mobility impaired users, as well as tourists.
This significant decrease in income does mark further questions reflecting on the council’s budget for 2026 and recent talks of the necessity of supplementary income.
The November budget was criticised for the nearly €1 million in cuts from Leisureland, the shopfront enhancement scheme, and building retrofitting allotments. Additionally, councillors agreed to increase parking rates by 3pc despite some calling the increase “bad practice.”
Earlier this year, council officials discussed the potential use of a supplementary budget under the Local Government Act, a mechanism that allows local authorities to address unexpected income shortfalls after a budget has been adopted.
Galway City Council has meanwhile been shortlisted for an eGovernment Award for its “Many Ways to Pay” parking app in the Smart Cities and Urban Development and Digital Services, Payments and Transactions categories.
A review of the full year of parking data is expected when councillors return from the Summer break in August. The data will be used to establish a game plan for parking efficiency and convenience.
The Irish Independent reached out to Galway City Council for a comment.