Commuting workers hit by Cleggan parking crux

Businesses on Galway’s islands are having difficulty recruiting commuting staff from the mainland – because they have nowhere to park before taking the ferry.

Businesses on Inishbofin in particular are finding it difficult to recruit workers because of the new parking bye-laws that are now in existence in Cleggan.

Parking had been allowed on the streets of the village – and even on the pier – but this situation has now come to an end.

Now however, it is proposed that residents of Inishbofin will be afforded parking concessions in the Galway County Council-operated car park – but employees on the island will still not be afforded the same facilities.

Cllr Eileen Mannion from Clifden said that a lot of effort had been put in to resolve the Cleggan situation and added that it was a two year process. “We need to get this passed now,” she told members of Galway County Council.

Cllr Tom Healy of Sinn Fein, a native of Cleggan, told Galway County Council that it would result in a major change for both villagers and those visiting the island.

He said that it would make a significant difference for the village and he welcomed the fact that parking would be taken off the pier.

Cllr Sean O Tuairisg said that it was an issue that was ongoing for years and he was glad that the parking on the pier had come to an end.

“But I am being told that it is difficult for businesses in Inishbofin to get workers because of the parking situation”, he said.

Then, in an unusual development there was a proposal from Claregalway councillor Jim Cuddy that employees working on Inishbofin be afforded parking concessions in Cleggan. This was strongly resisted by Director of Services for Roads and Transportation Liam Gavin.

Mr Gavin said that he could not accept a situation of employees getting parking reductions. He said that there were parking charges in Cleggan from both private and public operators that were acceptable.

In the end it was agreed that the bye-laws would be accepted but it was also agreed that the issue of employees on Inishbofin would be further discussed.