Mr. Colm Croffy:

A possible solution to a metropolitan issue like that is the Croí Cónaithe scheme introduced by the Government in the past 18 months. In east Galway, County Roscommon and north Clare, many artists have taken run-down rural premises. They use the mews or the stable to the back of the premises as their crafting kiln, studio, exhibition space or dance studio, and live in buildings at the front. In Galway city, there is huge pressure on artists in the context of trying to get studio space in order to rehearse or produce. They are coming out to Gort, Connemara and Oughterard. The a necklace of villages outside Galway is enjoying a huge house bounce from the Croí Cónaithe scheme, the pressure on the urban environment and rising costs and prices.