ELECTED Members of Galway County Council have approved an expansionary budget for 2025 that will see expenditure in core public services throughout County Galway increase to €193.6m next year, which is a 12%, or €20.5m, increase on 2024 spending.
The rise in projected income for 2025 will allow for increases in spending on 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).
At Monday’s Annual Budget Meeting of Galway County Council, county councillors approved a proposed Rates Payment Incentive Scheme for local businesses. As a result, Commercial Rates will increase by €2 per week only for 90% of the rate customers across the county. An additional €2.4m will be delivered subsequently for public projects and services across County Galway.
Cllr Ollie Turner (FG), 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”.
Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council commented, “In recent years, Galway County Council has been significantly underfunded matched by a rise in operational costs and expenditure inflation, has negated our capacity to invest in capital projects, existing infrastructure and day-to-day core services. 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 the Ennistymon native.
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 facilitates the advancement of our Project Management Office, which will oversee various projects under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) and Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF), and the future development of our more Strategic Economic Corridors.”
Conneally said, “I want to thank the Elected Members for their support and foresight in approving this ambitious budget for County Galway, as well as acknowledge the contribution of local businesses to enabling the Local Authority to make vital investments in our communities. Galway County Council will also continue to seek additional funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to further expand our 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”.
