Hotel and conference facilities planned for Mayo airport site
Ireland West Airport has welcomed the announcement by Government, that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment are to allocate €200,000 per year, for two years, to Mayo County Council to facilitate the employment of a dedicated project manager and the engagement of external expertise to develop a roadmap for the strategic development zone at Ireland West Airport.
The Strategic Development Zone Scheme, if built out to its full capacity, could deliver 95,025 square metres of commercial, business and enterprise space, 44,000 square metres of aviation economic development and services, and 11,000 square metres of hotel accommodation and conference floorspace - and has the potential to create up to 6,000 jobs and become a key economic driver for the west of Ireland.
Arthur French, chairman, Ireland West Airport, said: "I wish to thank An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, and Minister of State in the Department of Enterprise, Dara Calleary, for their important backing of the project as well as thanking our local politicians and TDs and local authority partners for their continued support in progressing the development of the strategic development zone.
"We look forward to working with the steering group in the coming months to deliver on the undoubted potential that the strategic development zone provides, in harnessing the economic potential of the Atlantic Economic Corridor along the northwestern seaboard from Galway to Donegal.
"This commitment by government today will hopefully be the platform from which all key stakeholders will build a cohesive model using the Strategic Development Zone for balanced regional economic development and significant new job creation”.
* Pictured at Ireland West Airport were, from left to right, Kevin Kelly, CE, Mayo County Council, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Dara Calleary, Deputy Alan Dillon, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Deputy Michael Ring, Joe Gilmore, managing director, Ireland West Airport, and Arthur French, chairman, Ireland West Airport.