Airport is key priority for new Cathaoirleach

The new Cathaoirleach of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District has identified the development of the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at Ireland West Airport as one of the main priorities for the next five years.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Damien Ryan was unanimously proposed as the new Cathaoirleach by party colleague Cllr John Caulfield and seconded by Fine Gael Cllr Michael Burke at the district's annual general meeting last week. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have agreed to share power on the county council for the next five years. There are three Fianna Fáil councillors in the district, three Fine Gael, two Independents, and one each from Sinn Féin and Aontú. 

Welcoming Cllr Ryan to the role, which he will hold for one year, outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Gerry Murray, of Sinn Féin, said Cllr Ryan has a great track record as chair of both the municipal district and the county council.

“I know Cllr Ryan will be a fair chair, he always was and I know he will be fair and impartial to everyone in this Chamber,” he said.

Cllr Ryan said he hoped that councillors and council management could continue to work in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that served them so well during the previous five-year term. He identified the Ireland West Airport SDZ, dereliction in towns in the municipal district, and the Ballinrobe bypass as key priorities for the five-year term of the district council.

“It is important as councillors that we meet with the manager of the SDZ when they are in place, as well as the minister responsible to discuss the roadmap for the project and what we can do as the municipal district where the SDZ is located to help it become a reality," said Cllr Ryan who went on to outline his other priorities. 

“Dereliction is an issue. We have a lot of smaller towns in the MD and we need to prioritise the schedule of our towns. 

“We need to invite the roads engineer responsible for the Ballinrobe bypass in for an update on that. I would like to see [progress] on that soon.

“If we take our business forward in a constructive way, we will leave the area better after my 12 months are up,” he concluded.

Independent Cllr Richard Finn said councillors not attached to the Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil grouping could have opposed Cllr Ryan's nomination but "that is not how business is dealt with in the municipal district". While he welcomed Cllr Ryan to the role, he said the alliance between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil makes it clear that the two major parties are linked.

“We will stress to our constituents that a vote for Fine Gael is a vote for Fianna Fáil and a vote for Fianna Fáil is a vote for Fine Gael.”

Cllr Finn added that the Western Rail Corridor must also be a priority and he hopes to see the railway line open between Claremorris and Athenry in the next five years.

Cllr Burke, who seconded Cllr Ryan’s nomination, said the municipal district should focus entirely on policies it can affect.

“We have an honest structure in here. We deal with facts, not fiction. We deal with things we can affect.”

Fine Gael Cllr Alma Gallagher was elected as Leas-Cathaoirleach.