Galway County Council passed a €193.6 million budget for public services in 2025 at its annual budget meeting on Monday.
The new budget represents a 12%, or €20.5m, increase on 2024 spending by the county council.
The rise in spending on different departments includes Housing and Building (€32m, up €5.6m), Road Transport & Safety (€62m, up €3.6m), Development Management (€21m, up €4m), Environmental Services (€28m, up €2.8m) and Recreation and Amenity (€13m, up €2m).
Ollie Turner, Leas-Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council said, “I welcome the adoption of the expansionary budget of Galway County Council for 2025 and agree with the priority funding in areas such as housing delivery, roads maintenance and economic development. I also welcome the creation of the Project Management Office.”
At the budget meeting, councillors approved proposed Rates Payment Incentive Scheme for local businesses.
This will see commercial rates increase by €2 a week for 90% of the rate customers across the County, which will deliver an additional €2.4m annually for public projects and services across County Galway.
Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council commented that in recent years the county has been “significantly underfunded” at a time when operating costs have risen, and inflation has bitten hard.
This has, “Negated our capacity to invest in capital projects, existing infrastructure and day-to-day core services,” he said.
“The approved expansionary budget will strengthen our financial position and ability to make these necessary investments.”
“Investment in housing is a key focus for Galway County Council in 2025 as we continue to work with the Government on initiatives under the remit of Housing for All, continue to help individuals and families meet their housing needs, and invest in the maintenance and improvement of our housing stock,” explained Mr. Conneally.
He continued, “In the area of Road Infrastructure, an increased budget to a spend of over €62m will allow us to make additional investments in the maintenance and improvement of the national primary and secondary roads, works on the public lighting and traffic management improvement.
The budget also advances the creation of a Project Management Office which will oversee projects under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) and Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF).
In addition, Galway County Council intends to seek funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to further expand its work programme in 2025.
Katie O’Connor, Head of Finance for Galway County Council said, “The finalising and adoption of the Budget follows extensive and ongoing engagement with Elected Members.”
“Galway County Council has also adopted a Rates Payment Incentive Scheme to support compliant rate payers with a rates liability of less than €50,000. We are now focused on the delivery of these important public services.”
