NEW EXECUTIVE APPOINTED FOR DROGHEDA
A new Senior Executive Post post has been created for the town of Drogheda with a number of key responsibilities, including managing Drogheda’s designation as a Centre for Regional Growth.
The role will come with a salary of €100k and the successful candidate will work from within the council.
Local Fine Gael TD, Fergus O’Dowd said confirmation of the role has come following a long fought campaign to employ an accountable executive that can manage the most pressing issues in Drogheda as it transitions to a city.
‘I have been liaising closely with Minister John Paul Phelan for some time to progress this appointment,’ he said. ‘I’m delighted that we will finally have an individual that will be focused on areas which the town have lacked over recent years.’ The role of the new Senior Executive will include Delivery of the Urban Area Plan, Coordination with Meath County Council in the preparation of joint Retail, LUTS and Planning Strategies, Management and coordination of projects under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund including the West Gate Vision, Liaison with stakeholders including BIDS companies, Chambers of Commerce, Purple Flag and
Tidy Towns Committees Coordination of all activities of other stakeholders including Town Centre Health Check Group, Retailers and Traders and acting as point of contact for Drogheda Port Company.
The new officer will also provide management and advice to the borough and municipal districts and will work closely with the elected councillors in each district to deliver the full range of services in the town and implement policy decision taken at local level.
‘ The town needs to be in control of it’s own destiny and we will finally have someone to hold accountable for the development of the town. This role is not the same position as the BIDS manager and both will work side by side,’ explained Deputy O’Dowd.
He said the campaign to secure the new managerial role for the town started a number of years ago when he and late colleague Oliver Tully brought Minister JP Phelan to the town to show him at first hand the ‘serious administrative issues’ the town was facing and pressing need for such a role.
‘Minister Phelan committed to progressing such a role and he has now delivered on that commitment.’
‘I along with the Drogheda Chamber of Commerce and key local stakeholders have been working to progress Drogheda’s position on a regional and national basis, I believe in talking up everything we have to offer as a town. We have been working closely with Government Representatives and key players such as the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.’