City Council being treated with contempt over tourist office

Fáilte Ireland has still not detailed its plans for the future of the tourist office building at the Fairgreen, despite agreeing to furnish Galway City Council with a full report in August.

One councillor has now accused the tourism authority of treating the City Council with contempt.

Fáilte Ireland – which currently leases the building from the Council on a 99-year lease from 2004 – is attempting to sell the lease and move to a “suitable location”.

At a meeting of the local authority, Councillor Padraig Conneely said concerns had been expressed at a previous Council meeting about where the tourist office would move to, and issues in relation to the lease itself, as the Council has an interest in the building.

Cllr Donal Lyons pointed out that at that meeting, it was agreed that legal opinion be sought on Fáilte Ireland’s right to sell the lease, and that opinion be circulated to councillors. That had not happened, he said.

The Acting Director of Services for Economic Development, Community and Culture, and Corporate Services, Eileen Ruane, said a meeting had taken place with an executive from Fáilte Ireland, at which the Council’s Chief Executive Brendan McGrath had requested details on the body’s plans.

“They agreed to provide a report in August. We haven’t received it. We need to know what they propose to use it [the building] as before we go for legal advice,” said Ms Ruane.

Cllr Conneely said: “They’ve ignored you totally since August. Fáilte Ireland are treating us with contempt.”

Following the meeting, Cllr Conneely said: “They won’t tell me where they want to move to. I’ve asked, but they won’t tell me. I will be wanting assurances from Fáilte Ireland and the Council that any deal to terminate the lease agreement, will have to include plans for a new tourist office at a city centre location.

“Galway is a city dependent on tourism and a tourist office in a central location is a basic requirement for visitors. I will be asking for a central location, in and around Eyre Square; somewhere that is accessible,” said Cllr Conneely.

Last June, an executive from Fáilte Ireland informed the Council “as a courtesy” that it was disposing of its lease on the tourist office.

In a letter, they wrote: “The decision has been made in light of the building’s considerable ongoing maintenance cost and the emergence of an opportunity to sell the lease.

“Though a sale has yet to be agreed, we anticipate an expedient process. It is our intention to relocate to a suitable location in the city centre. Once we have agreed a location, we will make you aware of same.”