Knock SDZ requires incentives to attract enterprise and jobs

THE Ireland West Airport Knock board chairman, Joe Kennedy, has said that while the Strategic Development Zone designation is welcome, it is of limited value unless a 'comprehensive package' of financial incentives is put in place to attract investment and jobs.

Following a recent meeting of the IWAK board, Mr. Kennedy said he welcomed the recent announcement by government of the designation of lands adjacent to the airport as a Strategic Development Zone, and noted that once the process is completed (which is estimated to take up to two years), it will provide planning certainty for any potential developments that may take place at the airport.

But, he added, the board also noted that the SDZ designation requires serious incentives to attract businesses to locate within the zone and create employment at the airport.

Further, the airport board outlined that it is committed to working with Mayo County Council in the development of the master plan required to complete the zoning, and urged the government to prioritise the SDZ for job creation and to work on a detailed action plan that will include the financial incentives package required as well as addressing the existing infrastructure deficits around the airport.

The board, said Mr. Kennedy, acknowledged the ongoing investment by government in supporting critical safely and security related capital projects at the airport, and the recent announcement of a further €1.1 million was welcome in this regard.

Now, the board is calling on the new Taoiseach and government to continue to support its current capital investment plans over the next five years for critical infrastructural projects at the airport.

Mr. Kennedy said the board has also highlighted the importance of increased marketing investment to support new route development into European and US markets, in the context of economic uncertainties around the potential impact of Brexit, with the objective of delivering more visitors from these key markets into the west and north west of Ireland.