Who will shout loudest to make Drogheda the North East capital
Dear Sir,
IN your edition of April 17th., the PRO for Fianna Fail in Louth and Coastal Meath takes issue with Senator Ged Nash in relation to Road Tolls.
The bigger issue here is – why do so many of our people locally have to endure long and expensive commutes by car, bus or train to go to work or college in Dublin ?
Perhaps Mr.Kierans and your readers need to be reminded that – almost a generation ago – his party colleague, then Minister, Martin Cullen introduced a National Spatial Strategy which ignored Drogheda, ensuring that much needed Foreign Direct Investment went to Dundalk and other centres, thus contributing to a “mass exodus” from the Greater Drogheda area to Dublin each day.
He should also reflect that, much more recently as Minister, Ged Nash demonstrated great leadership among local politicians to support the Drogheda Boundary review. In contrast, Mr.Kieran’s colleague, Deputy Thomas Byrne – a native of Drogheda – vigorously opposed extending the town boundary which would have regularised the rapid growth of recent years.
Since then, the Government have launched “Ireland 2040” which uniquely fails to name a Regional Capital for the North East. “Ireland 2040” also ignores the Northern Environs Plan for Drogheda (including the Northern Cross Route that’s also critical for developing the Port and the creation of local jobs) which can provide a housing plan of not just local, but national importance.
On top of this, “Ireland 2040” endorses a bridge across Carlingford Lough – but ignores the urgent need for an “Eastlink” bridge downstream from the viaduct to link East Meath with north east Drogheda. Is there an effort to slow Drogheda and East Meath’s natural growth and development – and in turn the prosperity of our people ? Perhaps Deputy Fergus O’Dowd would clarify the Government’s intentions ?
Politicians representing us in Dail and Seanad Eireann, as well as local Louth and Meath councillors must demand why has Drogheda still not got suitable sites to successfully challenge for the likes of the Chinese pharma business which just announced it is setting up in Dundalk ?
Fianna Fail’s Local Government spokesman Shane Cassells has stated he will not support Drogheda being designated the regional capital for the North East, despite its size and rapid growth, placing it to become Ireland’s next city. His Dundalk based Fianna Fail colleague, Declan Breathnach has also failed to date to support Drogheda’s position. I call on him to declare through the media whether he unambiguously supports Drogheda’s legitimate claim to be designated the Regional Capital of the North East and in turn Ireland’s next city – or not.
So far, Anthony Moore appears to be the only Fianna Fail representative who has taken an interest in Drogheda’s future prosperity – but what we need is a strong endorsement “top down” from Fianna Fail for Drogheda’s compelling case.
So, past and present, Fianna Fail has treated the Greater Drogheda area with contempt. Yes, Drogheda as a town is uniquely burdened with a toll on its doorstep – who was in power when that decision was taken ? And, who was in power when current and future generations were lumped with the greatest toll of all – when a Government capitulated to the European Central Bank and burdened all of us with the huge financial liability for the “2008 Crash”? Fianna Fail. Yours, B.G.Hanratty , Bettystown, Drogheda.