Plan for free parking to entice more spenders

A proposal to introduce free parking until midday every day to encourage diners and pub-goers to leave their cars in town without fear of getting ticketed is to be examined to determine the cost to the city.

Councillor Frank Fahy (FG) said it was more important than ever to support businesses in the current Covid-19 environment. By offering free parking in the morning, more people would be enticed to spend longer in pubs and restaurants without worrying about getting a ticket the following day before they had chance to collect their cars.

Dermot Mahon, Acting Director of Services with the Galway City Council, said the financial implications of such a measure would have to be investigated.

Cllr Fahy said people were currently not coming to the city so he questioned whether there would be any cost attached to it.

Senior Engineer for Transportation and Infrastructure, Uinsinn Finn, said he would recommend drawing up a report looking at the benefits as well as any unintended consequences of free morning parking.

He said the parking bylaws would also have to be amended and the parking machines recalibrated.

He told the meeting that a report could be produced for a meeting later this month.