Calls for Taoiseach to establish a high-level Expert Taskforce for Drogheda
“Decades of neglect by successive Governments must end now and substantial investment for Drogheda must be set out by all election candidates ahead of the General Election.”
So says Drogheda City Status Group (DCSG) in a statement issued today in which they demand substantial investment ahead of the general election to reflect the needs of the emerging city.
DCSG say they are disappointed with the lack of priority the parties in Government have displayed towards responding to the growing needs of Ireland’s “Cinderella City”.
They have called on the Taoiseach to establish a high-level Expert Taskforce to chart the key role that the future city of Drogheda will play both for the North East and the island, being in close proximity to the EU land border with the UK.
They point out that the country is in an exceptionally healthy financial position at the moment, wealth which was created in the main through windfall of tax receipts from the corporate sector.
The outcome of the Apple case alone provides the Government with a once off €14 billion, which various Ministers have said will see infrastructure projects prioritised.
“That’s exactly what Drogheda needs and our politicians know that, yet there’s no clear planning for our future city coming from any of the political parties,” said DCSG Chair, Anna McKenna.
“All the parties – especially those in the outgoing Government – must clearly set out their plans for our future city.
Anna highlighted some of the infrastructure projects that Drogheda urgently needs, including a University Campus; an “East Link” Bridge; a Railway Bridge that’s needed on the Northern Cross Route and a new Drogheda North Railway Station incorporating a public transport hub.
Added to those, a road map must spell out the way to not just restoring the Borough Council, but establishing a City Council.
On a recent visit to Drogheda, Taoiseach Simon Harris acknowledged that Drogheda “is a city in all but name and it could do so much more in terms of harnessing that potential if it were formally declared as Ireland’s next city.”
Also in Drogheda recently, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien spoke about the creation of a City Manager or Deputy County Manager at a Fianna Fáil event.
“What has confused and disappointed many local people is that in response to Dáil questions subsequently raised by local T.D. Ged Nash days after proposing the City Manager option, Minister O’Brien has again – on the record of the Dáil – stated that there are no plans at present to establish the City of Drogheda. That is very disturbing,” said Anna.
“Tánaiste Michael Martin needs to urgently clarify for the voting public what exactly is the Fianna Fáil position.”
Louth and Meath County Councils haven’t even done a feasibility study in relation to the construction of an “East Link” Bridge east of the viaduct to create an eastern bypass of Drogheda which would be a key part of a much needed orbital route from the M1 on the Meath side to the M1 on the Louth side and remove substantial HGV and other traffic from central Drogheda.
“This would also enhance access to Drogheda Port and create employment in that area. It would also result in traffic going to or from areas such as Clogherhead and Termonfeckin not adding to congestion in central Drogheda and would allow shorter journeys for those motorists,” said Anna.
In the days ahead, DCSG is calling on all local and community groups to actively engage those canvassing for election. “Every candidate – be they independent or representing a political party – must clearly set out a realistic ‘road map’ towards achieving city status for Drogheda for the benefit of all businesses and communities in the Greater Drogheda area,” concluded Anna.
