Galway City Council members voted against housing development plans in Ballinfoile Park on Monday. In a heated scene at the Galway City Council meeting, councillors expressed their frustration with the last minute plans to repurpose the green space for housing. 

The plans propose constructing 10 homes at both ends of Ballinfoile Park – land that is owned by the council and has been zoned for residential use for years. In the meantime, the areas are used as green spaces enjoyed by local residents.

The council held a public information meeting on 21 February to inform residents about the plans. After the meeting, residents showed their opposition to the development plans, emphasising that the green spaces were being used by children. 

A similar project was rejected by Galway city councillors in 2018.

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Councillor Mike Cubbard argued in favour of protecting the green spaces around Ballinfoile Park at the meeting on Monday. A vote on his motion against the housing development resulted in a ten to five in favour of Cllr Cubbard’s motion.

The vote, however, does not put an end to the debate around the city’s plans. The Executive of Galway City Council will make the decision, as new legislation allows the Executive to proceed with the plans without consultation with locals or councillors.

Cllr Cubbard called on the Executive to respect and consider the vote of the council members in the decision-making process.

Green spaces vs. housing?

In the newest City Development Plan, Galway City Council identified the area around Ballinfoile Park as an area that “can represent latent opportunities to contribute to addressing the current housing crisis”. The current City Development Plan came into effect in January last year and outlines plans until 2029.

Councillor Níall McNelis was amongst the councillors who did not vote in favour of Cllr Cubbard’s motion. This came after McNelis’ question whether the motion “might adversely affect swift provision of housing during a housing crisis” was answered with a clear “yes” from the Executive. McNelis said housing needs to be “priority number one”.

Cllr Cubbard argued that the plan also refers to green spaces as “an important resource for communities” that enhance “people’s quality of life” and support mental and physical wellbeing.

In an Instagram post on Monday evening, Cllr Cubbard rejected the opinion that his motion was against “anti-housing”, arguing that the council’s plans were to build houses for elderly residents of the Ballinfoile estate for improved accessibility.

“Nobody from the housing list or outside of the estate would have been housed in them,” said Cllr Cubbard.