Repair and Lease Scheme having negative impact  

Concerns have been raised about how the Repair and Lease Scheme is impacting some towns in the county.

Cllr Gerry Murray has warned that the ‘well-intentioned’ scheme is having a potentially negative effect on town centres.

The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or who do not have access to the funding required to bring those properties up to the standard for rental property.

However, Cllr Murray told the budget meeting of Mayo County Council that tenants in properties that house viable businesses are being given notice to quit so the building can be converted into residential units.

Cllr Murray said this practice will serve to ‘hollow out' town centres.’ “Tenants with viable commercial premises are being told their leases will not be renewed,” said the Sinn Fein councillor.

He said other business owners are concerned that their town centres will see a reduction in football if existing retail units cease trading.

Cllr Murray said Mayo County Council ‘needs to apply the brakes’ on some of these developments and if possible veto plans to shutter viable businesses.

“This is now that the legislation intended to do,” he added.

Claremorris-based Cllr Richard Finn said he could not speak for Cllr Murray’s constituents but stated that in is experience the scheme has worked very well in his area.