New developments in the Westport area could be slapped with a €4,800 levy per unit for water services if the supplementary development contribution scheme is implemented.
At a meeting of Westport Town Council last week, director of services Joe Beirne said that last year Mayo County Council adopted the scheme in order to make up the shortfall of national funding for water services.
In the Westport area the extension of the Tourmakeady water scheme from Srah needs to be funded by 20 to 30 per cent locally from contributions placed on any new developments which are to be granted planning permission. The remainder of funding will come from government.
The councillors were asked to approve the draft scheme which will then go on public display for submissions. Mr Beirne said that if money cannot be raised on new water connections it will fall back onto non-domestic water rates, and perhaps onto domestic water rates in the future. Mr Beirne added that levies in Westport have been light in comparison to other levies in the county.
Councillor Brendan Mulroy said that to ask people who are building new homes to pay such a levy was “not on” and management were living in “cloud cuckoo land” if they thought this could be done. The Fianna Fáil councillor said “it has been an awful oversight” as the water extension should have been completed years ago when government funding was there, instead of now looking to complete the scheme.
Cllr Myles Staunton said it was “another stealth tax” and would be another reason for industries not to come to Westport.
Cllr Christy Hyland said he was “baffled” as young people were already struggling to get a loan and an extra €4,800 levy would mean the council is helping to put young people “on the plane” to emigrate.
Cllr Keith Martin said the council needed to find the funding from charging people for new units, otherwise the burden would fall on existing ratepayers.
It was proposed by Cllr Michael McLaughlin to adopt the scheme and put it on public display. This was seconded by the Cathaoirleach of the council, Cllr Tereasa McGuire.
