CITY COUNCILLORS OPPOSE PROPOSALS FOR COMERFORD HOUSE

Date Published: 11-Sep-2012

City Councillors are fiercely opposing plans to use a building donated for community use in Galway as council offices.

Comerford House, which is located adjacent to the Spanish Arch in Fishmarket square, was previously used as the original City Museum and for office accommodation.

The building, which is now in a poor state of repair, was donated by the Comerford family to the city council some years ago for use in the community.

Director of Services for planning Tom Connell told last evening’s city council meeting that the property had been prioritised for office accommodation to meet the city council’s needs.

Councillors Padraig Conneely and Frank Fahy raised issue with why extra offices were needed when there was ample empty office space at City Hall in prospect Hill.

City Manager Joe O’Neill said he had no reason to believe the council couldn’t use the building as offices, and that it would be "extremely foolish to turn down an opportunity to save on rent"

He added that using this space could save an estimated 100 thousand euro a year on rent, and community services could be based there.

However, speaking to Galway Bay FM News, City Councillor Catherine Connolly said there was no basis to that argument.