Galway City Council has delayed its move to new headquarters at Crown Square until March 2027 at the latest.
When councillors first approved a €45m loan to purchase a Crown Square office block and carpark from developer JJ Rhatigan in early 2022, they were told the move would happen by late 2023. In June this year, City Hall said late 2026.
On Monday, councillors voted to approve a Part VIII application to make changes to the façade of Block C of the Crown Square development in Mervue, where the new City Hall will be located, while officials gave updates on timelines for its fit-out.
This façade and entrance change is understood to result in the loss of 21 car parking spaces, but it is not yet clear how this will affect the council’s deal to rent 50 car parking spaces from Rhatigans for €50,000 per annum. Councillor Alan Curran (SD ) has asked project managers in City Hall to provide more clarity on this arrangement.
Bar the 50 rented spaces, Galway City Council originally bought 100 car parking spaces with its building purchase, then purchased an extra 100 underground spaces for €1.4m before VAT.
Internal fit-out
Since the fit-out job was advertised in October, four pre-qualified contractors have been approved by council officials with the capacity to take on the job of transforming the empty, five-storey building into a seat of local government for Galway city. Tenders are due this week, and evaluation should be complete by mid January.
The expected cost of fit-out to a high level of energy sustainability with mechanical ventilation, and installing state-of-the-art ICT and AV systems, has been suppressed by council management for reasons of commercial sensitivity during the tender process, but some estimates in the public domain – vigorously contested by senior officials – range from €11m, to a whopping €23m.
Compared to the current College Road premises, the new City Hall will enjoy better public access, and improved space for staff and civic events. The ground floor will include a double-height foyer space, a council chamber laid in a horseshoe shape, and a mayor’s parlour. Two storeys of open-plan offices with spectacular views will be capped by a top-floor staff canteen, and the city manager’s office.
Officials expect works to begin in February next year, with a 42-week time-frame, until the building becomes ready for staff to begin the move from College Road. City engineers told councillors occupation should take place within the first quarter of 2027, if the fit-out is completed on schedule, by December 2026.
Speaking at the December plenary meeting this week, Councillor Frank Fahy (FG ) pointed out that Mervue’s new Radisson Red Hotel, in a separate Crown Square block, was able to be fitted-out, and up and running as a business, within one year of its construction.
Meanwhile, discussions between staff trades unions and council management on the local authority’s five-year workforce plan, including the move to Crown Square, are understood to be progressing well. High profile mediator Kieran Mulvey has been joined by veteran industrial relations negotiator Peter McLoone, and a new consultation model – thought to be unique to Galway City Council – has had one meeting since its terms of reference were agreed in October.
