Mayo VEC agree 25-year lease of Newport site

Mayo VEC agrees 25-year lease of Newport site


Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie

The decision by Mayo VEC and a Development Group in Newport to agree a 25 year lease for the site once earmarked for a second level school in the town was described as ‘a win-win’ scenario for the VEC.
The CEO of Mayo VEC, Dr Katie Sweeney outlined at last week’s VEC committee meeting that the Department of Public Expenditure had no objection to the lease agreement with the Newport Area and District Development Company and it was to go ahead with a number of terms.
The terms, she said, included a minimal number of two rooms in the proposed new development to be provided for educational purposes to be used by Mayo VEC at no cost. She added that if something would go wrong with the group everything would revert back to the VEC.
The six acre site on the Glenhest Road was bought by Mayo VEC in 2004 for the purpose of building a second level school for Newport but the plans were scrapped in 2005 when a report on school accommodation said they could not justify the establishment of a school in Newport.
Dr Sweeney said the site would now be used for educational needs as it had been originally purchased for and an educational presence with be available in Newport at no extra cost.
VEC Chairman, Cllr Jarlath Munnelly thanked Dr Sweeney for her work saying she had gone ‘over and above’ her duty while Pat Kilbane said there was now to be a readymade educational facility in Newport and it had come to a satisfactory conclusion.
The future of the site had been in doubt earlier in the year after the majority of the VEC committee had agreed to put the site for sale despite the recommendation of the CEO to hold onto the land.
Ballina-based councillor, Mary Kelly had voiced her objections to the sale and at last week’s meeting she said she was delighted with the outcome describing it as a ‘win-win’ situation.

HAVE YOUR SAY email antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie with your comments