Louth TD slams Government for showing ‘complete disregard’ for Drogheda’s future

Ministers refuse to discuss prospect of city status for Ireland’s largest town

Drogheda's bid for city status is not a top Government priority.

thumbnail: Drogheda's bid for city status is not a top Government priority.

Wed 24 Apr 2024 at 16:29

Deputy Ged Nash has slammed two Fianna Fáil ministers who he says have, along with their senior Fine Gael colleagues, “turned their backs on the people of Drogheda and have zero interest in our town’s future”.

The Labour TD poured scorn on recent statements by Ministers Michael McGrath and Darragh O’Brien and what he described as their “complete disregard for this town’s future” as they both denied Drogheda’s city status ambitions.

Deputy Nash explained: “Just a few weeks ago, Minister Michael McGrath rejected my appeal to have Drogheda included in the Living Cities initiative, an initiative that would have helped regenerate the centre of our town.

“I described that decision as unacceptable and inexcusable, but even that pales in comparison to this week’s formal reply to me on the Dail record by Minister Darragh O’Brien who once again, gave two fingers to Drogheda’s long-held ambitions for city status.”

The Louth Labour TD said: “I recently tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister for Local Government, asking him to lay out a legislative path for Drogheda to become a city, with responsibility for its own affairs.

“I was stunned by the dismissive tone of the response from the Minister, who said that city status for Drogheda is simply ‘not being considered’ and dismissed the notion of a City Council for Drogheda, out of hand.”

The Louth TD said his reply is another in a long line of kicks in the teeth Fianna Fail governments have delivered to Drogheda.

"Last June, I was taken aback by Minister O’Brien’s response to this same question, and despite the local backlash against his statement then, it appears the minister just isn’t listening.

“Despite Drogheda’s position just up the coast road from Minister O’Brien’s well-heeled political base in Malahide, we might as well be on another planet as far as this Fianna Fáil Minister is concerned. He and his party care nothing for this town and never have.”

Deputy Nash said: “Drogheda’s City Status Group and the people of Drogheda have worked hard on putting the case for city status and for this government to arrogantly dismiss the notion without proper consideration is insulting.

“In the last Census, Drogheda was once again revealed as Ireland’s largest town and many believe city status is crucial to its future development.

“That cannot be just dismissed with a wave of the Minister’s hand.”

Deputy Nash said: “One of the poorer excuses the Minister has for his refusal to create a Drogheda City Council is that the town straddles two counties but this is exactly why we need our own local authority. Drogheda needs autonomy over its own development instead of constantly finding itself falling between the two administrative stools of Louth and Meath County Councils.

“This would be the best approach for all of Drogheda’s hinterland.”

“City status, along with a new Council for Drogheda will allow what is now a city in all but name, to grow in a more sustainable and structured way.

“I understand Minister O’Brien will soon visit our town and I look forward to hearing him explain to the people of Drogheda why the largest town in Ireland does not deserve to be a city.”

Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 24th