Study to look at future uses of Leisureland complex

More usage and financial self sufficiency will be the main focus of a feasibility study being undertaken by the City Council examining the possible future development of the Leisureland complex.

The study will examine options for getting more all-year round usage for the greenfield area of the Leisureland site that lies idle for around eight months each year.

It will also look at the possibility of attracting more business to the concert hall area of Leisureland that currently lies idle for large chunks of the year.

Over recent years, the Leisureland complex has been operating at a significant loss, relying on a City Council ‘subsidy’ of €680,000 a number of years back to balance the books.

In the 2016, City Council Budget, a figure of €300,000 has been set aside to prop up the finances of the Leisureland complex that’s owned by the local authority.

Chairman of the Leisureland Board, Cllr. Donal Lyons, told the Galway City Tribune that the overall aim of the Board and the City Council was to have the complex financially self sufficient.

“The financial situation at Leisureland has improved over recent years with, for example, the installation of the combined heat and power plant system, resulting in savings of about €120,000 per annum.

“We have a very attractive greenfield site that lies unused for around eight months each year – there must be options there that can help us to make greater use of this.

“The feasibility study will also examine ways that we can promote, and attract more business in the hall area of the complex, a facility that can cater for 1,200 people,” said Cllr. Lyons.

He said that the aim was to appoint the consultants to carry out the report ‘as soon as possible’ with a view to having the completed report back before the City Council and the Leisureland Board before the end of the year.

The Leisureland pool facility was closed for almost a year following serious flooding damage suffered in  early January 2014 – it re-opened in December of that year after a major refurbishment.