Group asks Minister to consider locating National Apprenticeship Office in Drogheda
Representatives of the Drogheda City Status Group (DCSG ) met with Simon Harris, TD, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science last week to discuss, among other issues, the lack of a third level educational institution in Ireland’s largest town.
The delegation, which included Town Planning expert and consultant in urban economics and demographics, Dr Brian Hughes, told the Minister that the IDA have attributed this lack of a third level institution as a key reason for their failure to attract significant international businesses to the South Louth and East Meath area.
Both the Minister and the DCSG delegation acknowledged the work of DIFE and the LMETB who are responding to local challenges highlighted by the Geiran Report.
“DIFE with the support of the Minister and LMETB is well positioned to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the Greater Drogheda area, such as the renewed focus on tourism and domestic visitors” said DCSG chairperson Anna McKenna.
“We also asked the Minister to consider locating the headquarters of the National Apprenticeship Office here in Drogheda”
As well as discussing the importance of the Minister’s Education portfolio as far as Greater Drogheda was concerned, Anna McKenna proposed that – ahead of the results of Census 2022 and the continuing population growth that housing completions already confirm – Government should consider establishing a Working Group to examine critical issues affecting Drogheda including City Status; education; local employment; administration and governance in the Greater Drogheda area.
“This now becomes more critical as progress on the delivery of houses on the Port Access Northern Cross Route finally gains traction” she said.
“Minister Harris is clearly well briefed on education matters as far as the Greater Drogheda area is concerned, and he also took a keen interest in the work of DCSG and our ongoing campaign to see Drogheda confirmed as Ireland’s next city. On both fronts, the DCSG and the Minister agreed to ongoing communication.”
