‘Emotive’ Galway city budget prompts collaboration with local business owners
Fresh off the adoption of a near‑€160m budget for Galway City Council, confidence in its criteria remains low, with elected members voicing major concerns over projects and process.
At this month’s council meeting, first‑year councillor Shane Forde highlighted tensions around passing the city’s budget and called for greater public involvement in shaping it.
“It’s very clear that the first two budgets haven’t worked,” he told the chamber. “They are very emotive.”
To establish a budget that is “fair for everyone”, Cllr Forde proposed the creation of a business forum, bringing local business owners and experts into the process as a “boots on the ground” voice.
“We need people who have businesses in this town who can help us get this right. We should be utilising that availability and those people,” he added.
Public input would give the council a fuller picture of financial needs and pressure points, he said.
The 2026 budget was passed with a stated focus on returning “back to the basics”, prioritising essential services such as community facilities, footpaths, and grant schemes. However, criticism rang out in the chamber over increased parking and commercial rates.
Potential income streams identified for 2026 include the Galway Port dividend, derelict site levies, and commercial services and rates.
Cuts, meanwhile, will hit castle restoration projects, climate action retrofits in community buildings, and the much‑loved Salthill community space Leisureland.