Cllr Níall McNeils, Deputy Mayor of the City of Galway, Leonard Cleary, Chief Executive, and Senior Management of Galway City Council, welcomed John Cummins T.D., Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, to Galway City last week (Thursday 17 April 2025) to give an update on URDF projects in Galway City; Social and Affordable housing projects; and the Housing Repair and Lease scheme.
The Chief Executive and Senior Management team also outlined 12 priority projects for Galway City Council, which were submitted at the request of the Mayor and Elected members to the Programme for Government. These priorities reflect the Council’s role as an economic, social and cultural driver of the Northern and Western region, and stressed the need for Government to consider the funding system for local government by National Government. These priorities include the N6 Galway City Ring Road, BusConnects Galway; Galway City Flood Defence Scheme (Coirib go Cósta); funding model; pilot Tourist Bed Night Tax; wastewater infrastructure; regeneration of Dyke Road and Sandy Road; enabling development of Ardaun; the Clifden Railway Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge; cultural infrastructure fund; and Galway Port redevelopment.
Nearly 30% (29.9%) of all workers in the Western Region live in Galway city catchment, up 3% since last Census, with the city playing home to an internationally noted MedTech business cluster and a strong, emerging ICT cluster. Galway City is projected to grow by 50% by 2040 to 122,000 people.
Minister Cummins also visited Garraí Beag social housing scheme in Ballybaan More, to see recently completed homes.