Drogheda must be part of Cities move

SENATOR Ged Nash has again urged the Minister for Finance to extend the Living Cities regeneration initiative to Drogheda.

The initiative currently applies to the smaller town of Kilkenny, but not to Drogheda. The scheme involves tax reliefs and incentives to property owners and landlords to promote the regeneration of pre-1915 town centre buildings for residential purposes.

Senator Nash said, “Mayor Smith has been leading the campaign to have Drogheda included in this initiative which could help to transform our town centre and promote the idea that the urban centre of Drogheda can again become a vibrant and dynamic 24/7 living space.

“As recently as May, the then Fine Gael Minister for Finance Michael Noonan refused to commit to extending the initiative to Drogheda.

“The Mayor recently hosted a very successful and informative public meeting on the benefits to Drogheda of this scheme in the Highlanes.

“D-Day is fast approaching and I am again urging the government to include Drogheda in the initiative in the October 10th Budget.”