Concerns as Mayo airport facing prospect of €1m. annual rates bill

Ireland West Airport is facing the worrying prospect of a €1 million annual rates bill from Mayo County Council.

A final decision on the matter, which is imminent, is in the hands of the Rates Valuation Office in Dublin.

An elected member of the council claims it would be a crippling blow for the facility and could threaten its future.

Councillor Gerry Murray said: "Such a charge is unsustainable for an airport that is unique and operates on a not-for-profit basis.

"It is also central to addressing decades of regional imbalance and economic inequity.”

Councillor Murray has been in negotiations with senior officials of the council in respect to how the issue can be handled going forward.

He revealed the authority is 'coy' about the issue at this point because a legal challenge can be made to the decision of the Rates Valuation Office.

However, Councillor Murray said the situation could be addressed going forward by the council directing the rates collected from the airport to the development of the strategic development zone (SDZ) status in place at the 800-acre site.

The Charlestown-based representative said it is seven years since government approved SDZ status at the airport in an effort to attract additional investment around it.

But no funding has been allocated to date to provide the infrastructure required to attract potential investors.

"The situation, as it stands, is a very worrying one and there is an onus on us to do everything in our power to protect the growth and future development of Ireland West Airport," he added.