No funding for extensive work needed on Shop Street surface

Urgent maintenance works to the streets in Galway City’s pedestrianised zone – which regularly suffer from water pooling and uneven cobbles – cannot be carried out because of the chronic lack of funding for the local authority.

The works will require extensive funding to “present the city at its best” and the expansion of streets without cars towards the Harbour.

City Council Chief Executive Brendan McGrath outlined the bleak reality of funding shortages in the “difficult and challenging” local authority Draft Budget for 2016 which will be debated by councillors next Monday night.

Mr McGrath said the main shopping thoroughfare needs extensive works, but there is no money available.

“Many of the streets in the city require upgrading, modernisation, streetscape and civic amenity enhancement. The main shopping thoroughfare requires significant remediation at extensive cost.

“On wet days, puddling and ponding on the main thoroughfare should not arise. The funds to do such works are not available. This militates against the collective desire to present the city and its medieval streets to the best possible standards.

For more on this story and the Council’s Budget for 2016, see this week’s Galway City Tribune