Galway councillors warn draft budgets fall short on housing and parking – ‘Dismayed with these figures’
Elected members at Galway County Council expressed shared concerns over rising costs and parking pressures as Municipal districts across the county have held their preliminary meetings to discuss the 2026 General Municipal Allocations (GMA).
The county’s annual budget process involves three primary stages. The first stage, a decision on the Local Property Tax (LPT) rate, has already been completed, with councillors voting for an increase that will generate an income of €24.2 million.
The next two stages are the consideration of the municipal district draft budgets, as reflected in recent meetings, and the adoption of the overall Galway County Council budget next month.
At this stage, draft figures indicate an €11 million deficit between projected income and expenditure. However, officials said further adjustments and government financial supports for local authorities are expected to address the shortfall.
Director of Finance Katie O’Connor told councillors that figures included in the draft budgets are “as accurate as they can be at this point in the process,” adding that finalised numbers will be confirmed at the full county budget meeting in November.
All GMA budget drafts remain provisional. The final allocations will be confirmed when elected members convene on November 14, 2025, to adopt Galway County Council’s full 2026 budget.
The Athenry–Oranmore Municipal District recorded an increased expenditure of €5.1 million for 2026.
At the district’s draft budget meeting, Councillor David Collins raised concerns over the imbalance between funding for regional and local roads, noting that allocations are based on surface area kilometres.
The Athenry–Oranmore area receives the least amount of funding under that formula, despite being “one of the highest trafficked areas in the county coming into Galway City,” Cllr Collins said.
In response, Ms O’Connor explained that altering the formula to allocate a percentage of the budget to Athenry rather than by surface area “is not in the budget for this year.”
She also clarified that funding for spring clean-ups and illegal dumping is distributed evenly across all five districts, while specific projects such as Oranmore Litter Control are assessed separately.
The Connemara Municipal District saw its expenditure rise to €10.2 million for 2026. Flood prevention and drainage dominated discussions, as councillors reflected on the severe impact of Storm Eowyn last winter and the more recent Storm Amy.
Councillor Eileen Mannion urged that climate change considerations be factored into future road funding, describing current road conditions as “a serious problem.”
While councillors praised council staff for their “all hands-on deck” response during recent weather events, frustration remained over the lack of resources for emergency response and prevention.
Councillor Tomás Ó Curraín highlighted ongoing drainage problems, explaining that “insufficient drainage only moves storm water from one place to another, ultimately leaving it sitting somewhere rather than properly moving to a location that is suitable for intense water infiltration.”
Despite calls for a standing storm-response budget, Ms O’Connor told councillors that the council is still waiting on emergency funding requested immediately after Storm Eowyn, a revelation that drew shock in the chamber.
In Loughrea and Gort/Kinvara, a combined expenditure of €12.9 million has been budgeted for 2026.
Councillors raised issues ranging from housing maintenance to swimming safety and local recreational amenities.
Councillor Geraldine Donohue noted that with “people swimming all year round,” she hoped to see funding allocated for year-round monitoring of swimming areas for safety and bathing conditions.
She also questioned the €312,000 allocation for maintenance of local authority housing, noting that the estimated lifetime maintenance cost per home is €11,000, enough to cover fewer than 30 homes.
Ms O’Connor acknowledged the “age old” nature of the problem, saying it is an “area [they] are seeking an increase in, but it is pushing a closed door.” She added that the money is distributed based on need rather than divided equally between homes.
Councillor Martina Kinane meanwhile emphasised the importance of focusing on “the small things that matter,” such as maintaining local parks and recreation areas.
Perhaps the most striking point came from Ms O’Connor’s warning that inflation alone would cost the council €4 million “just to stand still.” While she anticipates some shifts in the final budget, she said they would not be significant.
Tuam’s municipal district budget increased to €9 million for 2026. Discussions centred on parking management and the future of the Twin Towns programme.
Councillor Ollie Turner raised concerns over the street parking allocation, describing it as “quite low.” He was told that the figure reflected operational costs only and did not include any staffing expenses.
The meeting also revisited the question of how revenue from paid parking is reinvested. Cllr Turner described the issue as an “opportunity to invest” while “improvising our income.”
Councillor Donagh Killilea questioned the absence of a dedicated budget line for Tuam’s twinning relationship with Straubing, Germany. Officials explained that the funding had been moved under the “public conveniences” category, as it was no longer a standalone fund.
A total of €8,000 has been allocated at county level for such initiatives, though Tuam councillors stressed that maintaining the Straubing link remains a priority. Councillor Andrew Reddington described it as “very special to Tuam” and called for funding to be sourced elsewhere to ensure the trip goes ahead.
Ballinasloe’s municipal district also saw an increase in expenditure for 2026 with a budget of €10.5 million, though councillors expressed mixed views on how funds were distributed.
Councillor Declan Geraghty said the overall increases “don’t make sense,” noting that while ten line items rose, ten decreased and five remained unchanged compared to last year’s budget.
“I am dismayed with these figures, and I am not happy with them,” he said, referencing Ms O’Connor’s earlier point that inflation costs would account for €4 million “just for the county to stand still.” “I think it is a joke to put them in front of us, let’s call a spade a spade.”
Cllr Alan Harney proposed trialling a one-hour free parking scheme to encourage local trade, saying he expected a “budget neutral implication” if enforcement followed thereafter.
Vandalism at the Dunlo running track also prompted discussion, with councillors calling for the installation of CCTV to combat anti-social behaviour. Until that occurs, they urged funding for a security presence in the area.
Councillors further questioned whether local parking byelaws could be amended independently of the Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) to allow greater district-level control.