Sale of airport site will be split between city and county

Athenry councillors to get first say on plan

THE proceeds of the sale of the former Galway Airport site will be split evenly between Galway City and County Councils.

The extensive site was jointly purchased in 2013 for €1.1million by the local authorities who have been considering its future use ever since.

Director of Services with Galway County Council Liam Hanrahan informed the recent meeting of Athenry-Oranmore MDC that all of the six proposals presented regarding the potential use of the site have now been evaluated and a report will soon be presented to councillors.

He said that the site is of great economic importance and that Athenry-Oranmore MD councillors will be briefed on the report ahead of other members.

Annaghdown Cllr James Charity asked whether the members of the MD will be able to see the proposals or if they will have to make a decision based on the report prepared by the council officials.

Cllr Cillian Keane hoped that the full details of the proposals would be brought before the council and that they “are not simply a rubber stamp” for a particular decision that might already made.

“It is too valuable an asset to make a decision on the basis of just some information,” remarked Cllr Keane.

Cllr David Collins emphasised that a message needs to be sent out that any talks around who will get what portion of the proceeds need to stop.

“How the site can benefit the city and county needs to be prioritised instead of who would get what out of it,” he said.

Mr Hanrahan assured the members that the proceeds will be divided equally between the two local authorities with no special conditions.

He said information around the proposals will be presented to the councillors but that some commercially sensitive information would need to be held back.

“It is a full council decision for both local authorities, but members of the Athenry MD will get a lead on making it,” stated Mr Hanrahan.