The Drogheda City Status Group (DCSG) has welcomed the launch today of a report produced by Vivian Geiran for Justice Minister Helen McEntee, which mainly focusses on crime and deprivation in the Greater Drogheda Region, and sets out several recommendations to address these issues.
“Properly resourced, this report, its recommendations and other initiatives can be the turning point for Greater Drogheda,” said Anna McKenna, Chair of the Drogheda City Status Group.
Anna added that it needs a heavyweight co-ordinator to drive it forward who can rely on the full support of Government, across all relevant Departments, with appropriate funding allocated promptly to start making much needed changes.
“We have seen how this worked for Limerick, now let’s get to work in Drogheda – a strong, energetic and experienced Co-Ordinator can harness local expertise and enthusiasm and is key to Greater Drogheda’s future.”
“It is now the time for LCC to relocate key staff and functions to Drogheda to support a very experienced co-ordinator from outside the Louth-Meath area.
“The report acknowledges Drogheda as Ireland’s largest town and the 6th largest urban settlement in the country – so as Ireland’s next city, it needs to be properly resourced and planned.
“The report also highlights the difficulty of Greater Drogheda straddling two counties and how contributors to the report expressed frustration regarding this. So, Meath County Council needs to be involved too, along with key business, community and political interests in the Drogheda Region.
“This report must be the ‘tipping point’ to address a unified administration of the Greater Drogheda Region, and Mr. Geiran frequently refers to this issue.”
“In recent days, we were all horrified when the PANCR was ‘side-lined,’ and LCC failed to secure funding for a major project that would have breathed hope and confidence into local communities and transformed both the centre and north side of Drogheda. That’s something that requires vigorous follow-up and investigation.
The Geiran Report also highlights other key problems that DCSG has been highlighting for years, such as the lack of local employment and the absence of a Third Level institution here. As a result, the report confirms that Drogheda has much higher than average unemployment and much lower Third Level educational attainment.
“It is shameful that none of the job creation agencies have a presence in Drogheda – this needs to change asap and the IDA need to urgently respond by attracting Foreign Direct Investment here.
“The structures and resources provided to the Drogheda Region as a consequence of Mr. Geiran’s excellent report need to go further than his brief which focussed mainly on crime and deprivation. These problems will only be alleviated by creating improved prosperity locally.
