Galway County councillors have voiced their concerns over the approach and transparency of the council in relation to the Galway Airport sale process with Cllr Karey McHugh Farag (IND ) suggesting she feared the motivation for the sale of the airport is to “help Galway City Council’s debt”.
Cllr McHugh Farag (IND ) said that she was “very disappointed” that she first found out about the potential sale of the airport in a draft press release.
“I don’t want to kick up a fuss but it was a disappointing situation. I would be in favour of it, but I can’t help but feel that we are only agreeing to go to sale to help Galway City Council’s debt. I want to see the site utilised in full potential for the people of Galway,” she said.
Councillors were informed at the May Plenary Meeting, held in Maree Community Centre on Monday, that last Friday marked the deadline for expressions of interest into the acquisition of the 118-acre site. Liam Hanrahan, Director of Services for Galway County Council told the meeting that the estate agents will supply the council with the number of bids received by the end of the week.
“These bids would then go to the chief executive of both councils. The joint Corporate Policy Group (CPG ) is the committee that will look into the sale of this and receive the reports on this. They have been informed all along. The joint CPG has been agreed to progress the site,” Hanrahan explained.
CEO of Galway County Council, Liam Conneally defended the process.
“There is a process and we will follow it because that is the the honest and transparent way to conduct business,” said Conneally.
The discussion over the sale of the airport kicked-off after Cllr Andrew Reddington (FG ) revealed he had been lobbied for a proposal for Galway Airport after “thinking long and hard about bringing it up”.
“It is very worrying that we have someone working for a company trying to lobby councillors to vote a certain way.”
Conneally agreed that the lobbying of councillors was “worrying” and that it needs to be registered in line with the lobbying process.
James Charity (FG ) inquired into the progress of a masterplan for the site of Galway Airport.
“We were told there would be a masterplan. We were told it was nearly completed and due for presentation. We have never seen it,” said Cllr Charity.
“This is a really strategic site, the potential is enormous given the proximity and connectivity of the location. We have no airport, we need a new hospital, this site has all the capabilities but we are putting it out for potential development. It doesn’t make sense.
Charity asked had there ever been a draft masterplan prepared and could it be presented to the council.
Hanrahan explained that “the scope for a masterplan was carried out at a great cost to both councils” but it would be part of the planning process going forward.
“It was felt that we did not have the resources required to make a masterplan at this stage.”
