New Galway courthouse could be built under PPP

There are renewed efforts to find a greenfield site for a new courthouse in Galway city with the Courts Service confirming that they are looking at locations on the outskirts.

They are anxious to provide a facility with around eight to 10 courtrooms to serve the needs of the city – and it is hoped that it could be built as a public-private partnership arrangement.

This would mean that it would be built with funds from the private sector and that the building would then be rented back by the State over an extended period.

But it has been learned that they have not ruled out the prospect of a new ‘mother ship’ courthouse for the city being provided at the old Corrib Great Southern Hotel – across from where a new city Garda station is proposed.

Brendan McDonald of the Courts Service told the Galway City Tribune that they were looking at a number of sites recently and mostly on the outskirts of the city. He said a site close to a main access to the city would be preferable.

However, he refuted suggestions that courts in Loughrea, Ballinasloe, Clifden and Tuam would be closed and that their affairs would be moved into the city.

Mr. McDonald said that the Courts Service did not have funding to construct a new courthouse but he did not rule out the possibility of the private sector being involved.

He said that there were courthouses being built in other parts of the country under PPP schemes but Galway had not been included in this at the moment. He added that if a suitable location was found, then there was the distinct possibility that progress could take place.

  For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.