Parking income rises by €270,000 as Galway council unveils new signage plan and curbside audit
Galway City Council is to introduce new signage across its car parks in a bid to make parking payment information crystal clear for motorists.
Director of Services for Operational Development Patrick Greene and a number of senior engineers briefed the Irish Independent at City Hall this week on the council’s parking operations following more than a year of public frustration over messaging on parking payment machines.
Officials said recent feedback from the public had been largely positive, pointing to a low number of complaints and strong parking revenue figures so far this year.
Income from council-owned parking facilities in 2026 increased by €270,828 between January and June compared with the same period in 2025. The following are income figures from the last three years:
As part of efforts to improve communication with drivers, more detailed signage is expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks. The new signs will include information on all available payment methods, including the parking app, website, phone payment service and Payzone retailers, as well as relevant area codes.
The signage will be installed alongside existing parking indicator signs marked with a “P” in the council’s five car parking locations.
Senior officials estimate the design and installation of the new signage will cost less than €20,000.
The council is also looking to undertake a curbside audit, an approach increasingly used by cities across Europe, which Mr Greene said would help shape a future parking strategy.
The audit will examine how public, curbside space is being used across the city, including parking spaces, loading bays and outdoor dining areas. It will provide an evidence base for future policy decisions and will be assessed alongside Galway’s wider transport and sustainability objectives.
Senior engineer with Galway City Council Pádraic Mac Giolla Bhríde said the development of a formal strategy would begin once data from the audit had been analysed against the council’s strategic goals.
The findings will then be presented to elected members for consideration, before engagement with ratepayers and a likely period of public consultation.
A workshop on parking is scheduled to take place with Galway City councillors next month. If implemented, Galway would become one of the first local authority’s in Ireland to undertake such an audit.