Mayo councillor laments further delays in commencing Westport convent project

The delay in commencing the development of the Westport convent is causing anxiety and frustration around the west Mayo town.

That is the opinion expressed by Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District after hearing that it could be the spring before construction work starts on the €11 million regeneration project.

The meeting heard that the completion of the tendering process for the development of the project has been delayed until later in the month after it was originally due to be completed on October 4.

Head of the Municipal District, Seamus Ó Mongáin told Cllr Flynn that once the tender process is complete, the assessment period will take another three to six months.

“They have to be assessed and go through a cooling off period and there is a process which has to be followed and once that is done they [contractor] will be appointed,” Mr Ó Mongáin told the meeting.

“The likelihood is it will be March or April next year which will be four years after funding is announced originally,” said Cllr Flynn in response.

He added: “It [delays] really has caused huge anxiety around the town and people are getting so frustrated. Everytime we walk the streets it comes up for discussion and it is hard to keep defending it.”

Cllr Flynn has been a critic at the slow process in advancing the project but welcomed the fact the tender process is almost completed.

“It has been way too long but it is behind us and let's move things forward,” he said.

The regeneration of the former Convent of Mercy building in Westport will see the development of a new library, council offices, community rooms and social services headquarters while permission has also been granted for 18 'Age Friendly' apartments in the old church and sacristy.

Over €9 million in government funding has been granted for the project but Cllr Flynn also questioned if the final cost will be 'substantially more than the €11 million we anticipated back in 2021'.