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RTÉ News
a day ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Plans for Galway local authority rent increases criticised
Galway City Councillors have roundly criticised plans to increase rents for over 2,500 local authority tenants. The proposals arise from a 'Differential Rent Review', which aims to generate an additional €1 million in revenue per annum. The proposals would entail a 3% increase in the proportion of assessable income, to be paid in rent, by those in social housing - going from 17% to 20%. In real terms, this amounts to a weekly rent rise in the region of 17.6%. The measures also include plans to abolish a €5 discount on rents for pensioners, those with children or people with a disability. The local authority's meeting heard the move was an executive function, as opposed to a decision that would be made by elected representatives. Effectively, this means councillors have no say on whether the decision will proceed. The meeting heard that €2.8 million is outstanding in rent arrears at present. Maintenance costs have doubled since 2019, and repair costs have surged for re-lets due in part to energy retrofitting obligations. The council's Chief Executive Leonard Cleary said the plan was difficult but necessary to address a significant gap in funding for housing. He said the revenue generated would go towards the maintenance of properties owned by the council. The increase will also apply to tenants in accommodation provided by approved housing bodies. Labour Councillor Niall McNelis described the proposed increase as "the third nail in the cross" for local authority tenants across the city. He said a number of people on Housing Assistance Payments were already making under-the-counter payments to secure their tenancies. He added that "the most vulnerable are the ones that are going to be hammered here". Social Democrats Councillor Eibhlín Seoighthe said she was taken aback by the proposal. She described the plan as "absolutely appalling", adding there was no cognizance of the societal impact it would have. She added it was "a huge burden to bear, which should be measured more clearly". Independent Councillor Mike Cubbard said some of the most vulnerable people in society were tenants of the local authority and that they needed to be protected. He said the proposal to remove a €5 discount for those eligible was the worst decision he has seen since being elected to the local authority in 2014. Labour's John McDonagh said the plan was like something from a Charles Dickens novel. Sinn Féin Councillor Aisling Burke asked the executive not to proceed with the move. She said people were already experiencing significant financial difficulties and that the increase in rents was unconscionable. Citing one of four case studies presented to councillors in which a tenant's rent would go from €51 to €71 per week, she said the scale of that increase was very difficult to comprehend. "You just cannot do it," she added. Fine Gael's Shane Forde said there had been years of under-investment in Co Galway, adding the council was now experiencing the full force of this. He pointed out that in recent months, councillors had approved increases to the Local Property Tax and commercial rates. He said he was sickened that elected representatives in Dáil Éireann "never wear the Galway jersey" but were happy to be on the airwaves discussing issues of national and international import. Fianna Fail's Michael Crowe said the examples presented to elected representatives appeared to show that those who were working would be most heavily penalised by the measures. No date has been given for the increase to take effect, but it will be in place by the end of this year or early in 2026. The Director of Services for Housing defended the proposals as "timely, proportionate, reasonable and needed". Elizabeth Fanning said rents had not increased since 2019, adding that a large proportion of those impacted would be able to afford the rise. She gave a commitment that the council would "100% work" to support vulnerable renters. She also pointed out that even after the increases were processed, tenants of local authority housing in the city would still be paying around seven times less in rent than those in private rental accommodation. A motion calling on the executive to abandon the 3% rent increase and instead proceed with a 1.5 % increase in January 2026, a similar hike in January 2028 as well as maintaining the €5 discount, was approved by all councillors. However, the motion is not binding on the decision made by the Council Executive. At the conclusion of more than an hour of discussions, the Council Chief Executive said he had noted the input of members and would reflect on their motions and feedback before making a final decision on the matter.
Irish Independent
30-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Former Galway Airport set for major redevelopment as local authorities confirm plans to sell key site
The Carnmore site has huge potential Fixed plans for Galway Airport finally look set to get off the ground, with Galway City & County Councils inviting bidders to submit proposals for the site's redevelopment. The local authorities jointly purchased the former commercial airport in for €1.1 million in November 2013 but have been unable to find a permanent use for the 118-acre site in the ensuing years. Now, the councils have jointly announced that they are inviting proposals for the sale and future economic development of the Carnmore site over the next month. The land on offer includes a terminal building, two hangars, extensive carpark and frontage onto three roads, with the site earmarked as an area with huge potential for future developments. The airport has previously been highlighted as 'vital' for the economic growth of the Galway Metropolitan Area in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2020-2032, with its prime location near Galway city with access to the motorway making it a 'significant enabler' of regional development. In the past number of years, the airport has been used as a Covid-19 testing centre, while also hosting a series of high-profile concerts called Galway Summer Sessions in 2024. Fixed plans, such as a proposal to develop the site into a film production studio in 2021, have failed to get off the ground. Chief Executive of Galway County Council Liam Conneally said: 'As set out in the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028, our vision for the former airport lands is to provide for economic development at a scale which will deliver regional impact. 'We invite innovative proposals that will unlock this prime location's potential, driving economic growth and sustainable development for Galway.' Chief Executive of Galway City Council Leonard Cleary said: 'Located just off the N6/M6 Dublin to Galway Road, this site offers easy access to the M17 and M18 motorways and is only 8 kilometres from Galway City Centre, making it an ideal spot for innovative projects. 'The development land is also located close to the existing large employment areas such as the Parkmore Industrial Estate and the other existing IDA lands at Oranmore and Athenry.' The closing date for potential bidders to make expressions of interest is May 23 at 5pm. Related topics Joseph Murray
