The Drogheda City Status Group has strongly criticised the Government’s Local Democracy Taskforce report, saying it does not go far enough to address the town’s continued division between Louth and Meath.
The group argues that Drogheda’s rapid growth requires a single, unified system of governance and says the report’s proposed reforms leave the area’s long-standing administrative problems unresolved.
The Drogheda City Status Group (DCSG) has today heavily criticised the Government’s Local Democracy Taskforce report, stating that the long-overdue review completely fails to address the deeply broken and fractured governance facing Drogheda, Ireland’s fastest-growing urban area. The group warns that minor administrative reforms do not go far enough to address Drogheda’s governance. The future development of the East Coast of Ireland is dependent on the development of the Drogheda region as an economic hub. In order to deliver this Drogheda needs unified governance rather than incremental change.
DCSG proactively engaged with the Taskforce throughout the process, presenting clear, evidence-based proposals backed by comprehensive data. Despite laying out a roadmap for a unified Drogheda city administration, the community backed proposals
were disregarded and set aside in favour of preserving badly outdated county-based governance arrangements. The DCSG argues that the report ignores the unique reality that Drogheda has a rapidly expanding population that remains severely fractured
across two separate county councils in Louth and Meath. The Group has repeatedly engaged with senior government figures, making representations for Drogheda to be recognised as a city straddling two counties, the fastest growing urban area in the State.
“This report is a missed opportunity that leaves Drogheda split down the middle between Dundalk and Navan,” said Sylvia McCann, Executive Chairperson of the DCSG. “By refusing to redraw boundaries and provide single governance for Drogheda,
the Government ensures that Drogheda remains no one’s priority. Our potential to grow as a major regional economic hub is being held back by duplicate bureaucracies, piecemeal infrastructure, and administrative red tape. The people of Drogheda will no
longer stand to be ignored.”
“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a City of the Future – a city that is a home for good living, a home for good business and a home with a good future” Ms. McCann continued. “Instead of delivering a bold, visionary plan to unlock Drogheda’s true power, the Government has offered nothing but short-sighted political compromises.”
The DCSG points out that while minor shifts in municipal budgetary powers are a small step, it does nothing to address the systemic issues facing the area. Drogheda’s massive population expansion requires a single, unified administration to drive strategic investment, education, employment and infrastructure. As a result, the Drogheda City Status Group is once again calling on the Government to abandon these half-measures, to unify and immediately grant official City governance to
Drogheda.
“The Local Democracy Taskforce report proves the current model is broken and these proposals offer absolutely nothing for Drogheda,” Ms. McCann added. “We do not need minor sub-structures within existing county boundaries; we need a unified city council. We urge the Government to act immediately and grant official city governance or administration to Drogheda and finally give this area the single, powerful voice it requires and deserves.”
