Ballinasloe’s municipal district (MD ) saw an increase in expenditure for 2026 with a budget of €10.5 million, but its elected MD members have expressed shared concerns over rising costs, community grant reductions, parking measures, and anti-social behaviour at the recent municipal district meeting to discuss 2026 General Municipal Allocations (GMA ).
Galway County Council Director of Finance Katie O’Connor told councillors that figures included in this draft budget are “as accurate as they can be at this point,” as the final allocations will be confirmed when elected members convene on November 14 to adopt the Galway County Council’s full 2026 budget.
Cllr Declan Geraghty (II ) bided his time as his fellow MD members shared their thoughts and suggestions, punching figures into his calculator in the meantime.
“Katie, Katie, Katie,” he began when his time came. Cllr Geraghty outlined that while ten line items rose, ten decreased and five remained unchanged compared to last year’s budget. He said that the figures “don’t make sense”.
“I am dismayed by these figures. It is a joke to put them in front of us, let’s call a spade a spade,” the Independent Ireland councillor said.
Cllr Alan Harney (FG ) was disappointed with a reduction in community grants. “I don’t think we should be seeing reductions at the moment,” he said. Party colleague and Cathaoirleach for the Ballinasloe Municipal District Peter Keaveney (FG ) echoed this disappointment and said that more funding was needed for footpaths.
Cllr Dermot Connolly (SF ) and Cllr Michael Connolly (FF ) also called for improvement in footpaths and roads.
Fine Gael’s Cllr Harney also suggested trialling a one-hour free parking measure. Cllr Geraghty proposed the six councillors sit down with Ms O’Connor to discuss how to proceed with the measure.
Tackling anti-social behaviour at Dunlo Running Track
The elected MD members for Ballinasloe shared their concerns regarding anti-social behaviour at the recently renovated Dunlo Running Track calling for CCTV to be enforced at the public park.
Cllr Dr Evelyn Francis Parsons (IND ) noted the lack of CCTV at public parks around the Ballinasloe area and said that it “was very important our public facilities are state of the art” and that has to be factored into the budgetary plans for the MD.
“Dunlo Running Track is under attack from anti-social behaviour and has to be protected. I have asked for security as an interim measure until CCTV can be affected,” she added.
“CCTV has to be part of the solution,” said Cllr Harney. “I don’t want to see us spending big money only for it to be vandalised, this needs to be prioritised.”
Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Collins enquired about the frequency of cases of vandalism at the running track that has recently been equipped with new changing room doors, a fresh repaint, and repairs ongoing.
Cllr Parsons replied that the doors are being kicked in and people are cycling on the running track itself. Cllr Geraghty cited a lack of police presence as an issue.
“There is a lack of gardaí in the area and people are afraid to report intimidation to the gardaí. That says to me the law is not being enforced to the magnitude it should be,” he said.
