The Arts Alliance Galway group (made up of almost every significant arts and culture organisation in the city) was to meet with Murray O’Laoire architects last night (Tuesday) as the Galway Independent went to print. Tracey Geraghty of art house cinema Solas said yesterday that there had been no definitive result yet, but that they were hopeful about the meeting.

Deputy Mitchell echoed the arguments put forward by local Deputy Michael D Higgins’ by questioning the appropriateness of the way in which the development bypassed the planning process.

“It is very questionable that a proposal where more than three quarters of its square footage is straightforward commercial development could reasonably be regarded as a ‘strategic’ development. Strategic infrastructure of economic or social importance can avail of the An Bord Pleanála fast-track planning process.

“While an enhanced railway station is clearly of strategic importance, the transport element forms so small a portion of the site it can only be seen as a vehicle on which to ‘piggy back’ apartments and other commercial developments,” she said.

Deputy Mitchell concluded by pleading with CIE not to make a mistake the city would have to bear “for generations”. 

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