Parking FAQs

Frequently asked questions in relation to parking at ATU Galway Campus

This policy refers to the Galway and Mayo campuses and was formulated through extensive consultations with representatives from all sections of the staff and student body in that campus.

The policy means that any car, which is not parked in a designated car parking space, is liable to be clamped. The de-clamping charge is €50. An additional call-out fee of €30 is charged after 8pm. Since May 2009. Parking spaces at the Galway campus have been zoned for students and staff. Students and staff apply for annual parking permits from the car - the parking management company. Staff and students are required to apply for parking permits before using permit car parks. Validation of virtual permits for new applicants are made on campus each at the start of the academic year, alternative arrangements for distribution validations are made throughout the year. All permits are virtual and confirmation of aplication is sent to email.  Users can also confirm account by checking online account generated. A parkingppermit costs €10. While a permit entitles the holder to a parking space, it does not guarantee the holder a parking space on campus or at the Dublin Rd overflow car park at Galwegians Rugby Stadium. Short term parking is possible in the 'Pay & Display' zone with a charge of €1.00 per hour and for €2.00 per day at the Galwegians Rugby Stadium.  Pay and Display Parking is available in the campus in Castlebar at a rate of €1.50 per hour.

The car parking policy came into force on 11th May 2009.

You can apply online  the car parking management company for a permit. Go to https://www.gmit.ie/about/applying-parking-permit.

If requested to validate  your permit, you must have your Insurance Cert, Drivers Licence and proof of address (current bill issued within 3 months). The address on the bill and the Insurance Cert must correspond with each other. For applicants not using ATU email addresses for applications. Students are required to supply a student ID number and staff an employee ID number. Permits will not be validated without the correct up-to-date valid documentation. Previous permit holders (recognisable by previous GMIT email address) from 2021/2022 will automatically be validated.

Students/staff living within a defined zone of the campus (generally circa 1000-1100 metres) will not be entitled to a permit as this is deemed to be within a reasonable limit of the campus to use alternative transport or to walk in 15 minutes or less. A list of named addresses inside this zone can be viewed at the end of this policy. It is suggested, subject to the agreement of the Appeals Committee, that car park users who live within the 1000-1100 metre zone of the main campus and who are required to use their vehicle for work, should take the following actions to secure a permit.

The following information is required by the Appeals Committee in relation to this issue:

Evidence that the applicant needs his/her vehicle on a regular basis to carry out his/her duties effectively at ATU.

Signature by the Head of Department/School/College/Function confirming that the individual uses his/her vehicle from time to time on ATU business or business connected with ATU.

If the Appeals Committee agrees, a letter is granted to the applicant entitling him/her to a parking permit and this letter can be presented to the parking management company who will issue him/her with a parking permit.

An Appeals Committee (with representatives from staff, students and management) adjudicates on appeals made by people in relation to parking matters.  This includes clamping and validity of requirement to have permit.

Two car registrations are not valid at the same time under one parking permit. Users can change their registration details by logging on to, and following directions given on the car system. It is the user’s responsibility, when changing registration, to ensure details are entered correctly and that they have correct insurance, and other details have not been omitted. You are no longer issued with a paper permit from September 2016, as all details are recorded virtually. At the time of application, you can register a number of vehicles, however only one can be nominated to avail of a virtual permit.

Permits are validated against vehicle registration. Your contact details are recorded and used for car park management issues. Therefore you should not allow others to use your account.

If you change your vehicle you are required to change your details on the car parking database. Following your permit application you should have received a Username and Password.  This can now be used to update your vehicle details online by accessing  https://www.gmit.ie/about/replacing-permits  There is no cost for changing nominated registration.

These are retrievable by the following the details of the application process. New Log On details are required for all permit applications without 2021/2022 account

Permit holders who change their car must change their details on car parking database. A note displayed on the windscreen of the intention to change registration details will be accepted by monitoring company for 1 day before clamping. The registration for the original car should be displayed on the windscreen of the temporary car - failure to do so may result in your car being clamped.  Permit holders who replace their car with a garage or borrowed car for longer than 1 day must change details on car parking database to have the registration transferred. Registration of your original car details must be transferred when you begin using your car again. Permit holders requiring a one-day temporary change of permit must display an explanatory note with details of change and registration on account. The detail will be recorded by monitoring company while on patrol and one day’s parking will be permitted.

Staff, students and visitors alike must pay for and display a valid ticket in Pay & Display area. Tickets can be purchased from the nearby machines or using car parking Pay by Phone facility. The user is responsible for checking they have the ticket displayed correctly and ensuring adequate time is allowed.  Any issues with Pay & Display parking should be reported immediately to Reception. Issues reported are referred to the monitoring company.

The policy applies at all times including Saturdays and Sundays and during the summer months of June, July and August.  Permits are not required after 6pm or Saturday and Sunday.  Local arrangement may be put in place during Summer months. The 'Pay & Display' area will operate as normal all year round, please observe local signage for times, generally in place Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm.  24/7 Pay and Display will apply to EV car parking spaces.  Parking in set-down areas, incorrect parking and areas causing obstruction may also be clamped at any time.

Drivers leaving the campus, even on official Institute business, may have difficulty obtaining a parking space on return. If you find there are no spaces, you may park in the overflow carpark at Galwegians Rugby Stadium or in the 'Pay & Display' area and pay the relevant cost.

Do they have to pay to park and where do they park? Drivers of vehicles requiring the use of universally parking accessible bays may only do so if their vehicle displays a valid and registered "blue badge". Universally accessible bays are marked with a sign on the ground and/or on a nearby pole. If drivers display a blue badge, they may use these bays, but all drivers must apply for a Permit before parking. Disability Parking in Pay and Display parking may be used for free by persons attending ATU premises.. Drivers unable to find a space, within universally parking accessible bays, may park in other available designated spaces. Drivers using these spaces displaying a Blue/Disability badge may park such that they are occupying more than one car parking space if the disability requires it. A valid “blue badge” must be displayed in this instance. The Road Traffic Regulations, 1997, governs the issue of disabled person’s parking permits in Ireland. Local Authorities, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association issue the permits. Permits are granted to all eligible disabled persons, irrespective of whether they are drivers or not, and they have national application. Any person who is suffering from a disability that prevents that person from walking or causes undue hardship in walking is eligible for a permit. For those permits not issued by the above agencies, the displayed permit must comply fully with EU recommendation (98/376/EC), which allows for its recognition in other EU member States. There are many bays dispersed throughout the campus. Misuse of disability badges will be reported.

Invited guests can use spaces in the Pink Zone in the Galway campus, or designated spaces in the Mayo campus, provided this has been pre-arranged with a ATU staff member and that reception staff have been advised. On arrival to the Pink Zone in the Galway campus, visitors may use the call intercom and the barrier will be raised for entry. For out of office hours entry, an entry code can be arranged. On entry to the Pink Zone, only park in designated parking spaces. If the barrier is not working or is damaged, this should be reported to the person visiting and Buildings & Estates should be informed. The barrier not working will not be accepted as a reason for incorrect parking should the car be clamped. 

If this area is full, or you are unable to enter, the Building & Estates office may issue a Day Permit which entitles the user to park in Galwegians). This will be issued by email, it is the users responsibility to display.   24 hours notice to be given if this is required. Registration of visiting person and date of visit to be provided.  Otherwise, invited guests may use the Pay & Display spaces where the charge is €1.00 per hour. Visitors on a business or courtesy visit can use the Pay & Display spaces. Charge is €1.00 per hour.

Parking in a non-designated space causes a number of problems including but not limited to: 

  • Obstruction of fire exit routes 
  • Obstruction of access to fire hydrant locations 
  • Obstruction of fire-fighter's access and hose runs 
  • Security 
  • Obstruction of universal access including for wheelchair users and visually impaired 
  • Disruption to deliveries 
  • Disruption of waste disposal 
  • Maintenance access 
  • Aesthetics 
  • Physical damage to landscaping and grounds / footpaths 
  • Health and Safety risks due to obstructed vision and sight lines.

Please follow the instructions enclosed with the infringement notice attached to your vehicle. The telephone number for the release of your vehicle to be provided with infringement notice. Details of clamping to be made available by the car parking management company,.

Should you have a grievance with the circumstances in which the clamp was applied, please fill out the Clamping Appeals Form and place it in the Appeal Box located at both receptions. The Appeals Committee is in place to consider appeals and is chaired by a member of the Institute management, a student representative and a staff union representative not connected with the Buildings and Estate Department. The committee meets once a month. The following rules are taken into consideration by the Appeals Committee in the context of appeals lodged:

  1. Park only in marked parking spaces and entirely within the space as marked.
  2. Park only in the appropriate zone for your permit.
  3. A valid and correctly displayed Pay & Display ticket must be visible in the Pay & Display area, or alternatively Park by Phone should be arranged.
  4. Do not park in the set down area.

The committee will consider appeals against the application of a clamp where shown that parking procedures followed and clamp was incorrectly applied.

The group cannot consider the following as valid reasons for an appeal

  • Being late for work/lectures 
  • Inability to find a parking space 
  • Lack of knowledge of the system 
  • Incorrect display of Permit or Pay and Display ticket 
  • Disagreement with the principles of the system

The Car Parking Policy was developed by a sub-committee of the Common Partnership Forum.
The sub-committee consisted of representatives from every cohort of staff including: 

  • TUI representative representing the academic staff, 
  • SIPTU representative representing SIPTU members, 
  • IMPACT representative representing IMPACT members, 
  • Representatives for the caretakers' union, 
  • Representatives from the Students’ Union, (both President and Vice President of SU representing the students' interests), 
  • Representatives from management represented by the Buildings & Estates team.

Yes, we currently use the same car park management company in both the Galway (Dublin Rd) and Mayo (Castlebar) campuses where parking permits are required. Staff and students from either campus can use either car park following application. All should take note of the different parking areas for staff and students in the Galway campus. Other than arrangements in place between Galway and Mayo there are no other arrangements in place.
 

Staff and students visiting from other ATU locations are allowed to apply for a Galway/Mayo campus permit. See Q3 regarding the application processPlease use ATI email address when applying to assist with validation

. Please see list below which is not a fully exhaustive list of addresses. There may be street names within the restricted zone not listed below that will not be granted parking permits.

includes but is not limited to: 

  • Ballyloughaun Road 
  • Barry Ave 
  • Bayview Rise 
  • Beech Drive Ave 
  • Pearse Ave 
  • Glasan 
  • Beech Park 
  • Tone Ave 
  • Heather Grove 
  • Renmore Crescent 
  • Emmett Ave 
  • Rocklands §
  • Renmore Ave §
  • Cluain Ard §
  • Ballybane Road §
  • Rowan Ave §
  • Clark Ave §
  • Castlepark Road §
  • Elm Park §
  • Connolly Ave §
  • Glenavon Drive §
  • Sea Grove §
  • McHugh Ave §
  • Gleann Bhan §
  • Fuschia Drive §
  • Parnell Ave §
  • Hillside Park §
  • Fuschia Park §
  • McDonagh Ave §
  • Gortcam §
  • Woodlands Ave §
  • Walter Macken Road §
  • Belmont §
  • Michael Collins Road §
  • Dublin Road §
  • St. James Road §
  • Glenina Heights §
  • Quinn Terrace §
  • Slibh Rua §
  • Lurgan Park §
  • Holly Grove §
  • Merlin Park §
  • Hawthorne Drive §
  • Gleann na Ri §
  • Lakeshore Drive §
  • Lios an Uisce §
  • Gleann Rua 
  • Maline Ave 
  • Murrough Drive 
  • Murrough Ave 
  • Murrough