Merger plan ‘would be bad’ for city and county

Galway West Independent TD Noel Grealish, in a submission to the Galway Local Government Review Committee – which is looking into the possibility of unifying the city and county councils – said that any such move would be bad for both the city and county.

The committee, appointed by Alan Kelly, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, is also examining whether or not the boundary of the city should be altered.

But Deputy Grealish claimed this week that the exercise was simply a ‘political stunt’ by Minister Kelly.

He said that Galway City had a proud and rich history as an independent entity and nothing should be done that might in any way impact on its uniqueness and its international reputation.

“If we make it one local authority for the whole of the city and county, then Galway City will lose much of its standing and I firmly believe it will not have the tourist pulling power that it has now as the City of the Tribes.

“It would also destroy the marketing power that Galway City has in attracting inward investment from abroad, which has proven to be so crucial to the success of the city in recent decades.

“When you have visiting dignitaries and international companies coming, one of the functions always of the Mayor of the city is to meet these delegations and to sell our city to them.

“If you have just one local authority, you will no longer have a mayor for the city,” said Deputy Grealish.

He stressed that the city and county had very different needs.

“Galway county stretches 100 miles from east to west, all the way from Ballinasloe and Portumna to Clifden and beyond, with a population of more than 175,000 … that’s a substantial administrative area in its own right, as is the city of Galway, with a population today of about 80,000.

“As well as that, County Galway is a very rural county with 77% of people living in rural areas, according to the report on the 2011 Census  – that is double the state average of 38% – whose needs and interests are very very different to those of the city.

“So not only would a single local authority be a bad idea for the city, it could also be detrimental to the interests of the people of the county.”

On the question of extending the city’s boundaries, Deputy Grealish said that the Ardaun corridor to the east of the city, where a new ‘town’ with a population of 20,000 people is planned, should be entirely brought within the control of Galway City Council – it currently straddles the city and county administrative areas.

“However, it is imperative that there be no change in the administration of the city, with Galway City Council retaining its role in the urban area and Galway County Council continuing in its duties as the administrative authority for the rest of the county.

“To coin a phrase, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!” he added.