Housing and water quality to be a priority for veteran Mayo councillor in new role

THE new Cathaoirleach of the Castlebar Municipal District says his main priorities for the coming year will be the speeding up of the delivery of housing projects and protecting the environment in Mayo.

Veteran Fianna Fáil councillor Al McDonnell was unanimously elected as the new Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District succeeding Fine Gael councillor Donna Sheridan in the role at the annual meeting of the municipal district this afternoon.

The Carnacon native was nominated for the role by Fine Gael councillor Cyril Burke and seconded by his Fine Gael party colleague Ger Deere.

In accepting his role as Cathaoirleach, Cllr McDonnell - who has held the chain of this office on two previous occasions – outlined his priorities for the coming year which included the delivery of housing in the Castlebar district. He said that the decision making on projects should be given to the local authority and not decided by the central government.

“I am also extremely determined to expedite the delivery of social and affordable housing in the Castlebar area. What is seriously annoying about what is happening with the delivery of housing projects is the delay between the time of the authorisation of a scheme and the delivery. That in some instances takes up to seven years as I have experience and that is outrageous. That has to be expedited.

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“It is partly due to the centralised nature of local government in this country. My motto would be to provide the money to the local authority because we have the expertise and we should have the discretion to decide what local priorities are and deliver them should be expedited as a consequence,” he said.

Cllr McDonnell, who has been a member of Mayo County Council since 1987 outlined some of the projects he wished to see progress in the coming year. These included the Imperial Hotel and Military Barracks in Castlebar, The Michael Davitt Museum in Straide and projects around Lough Lannagh.

On a parochial level he said he was looking forward to the publication of the masterplan for Moorehall in September which he described as an exciting development.

Cllr McDonnell also spoke of protecting the water courses and the environment around Mayo and was encouraged that the water quality around Lough Carra has improved since the creation of the Lough Carra LIFE project.

He added that everyone has a 'solemn duty' to behave responsibly and insist that water quality is maintained at a high standard.

“I am encouraged by what is happening in Lough Carra which was under great threat until the LIFE project was established and now people have changed their behaviour. Why do I think this is important? It is important because Lough Carra has one feeder stream only and it feeds into Lough Mask and every cup of water which is consumed in this town comes from Lough Carra and Lough Mask so we need to be concerned,” he said.

In nominating Cllr McDonnell for Cathaoirleach, Cllr Cyril Bourke said that he will bring great experience to the role which he said will be important as the new housing targets for Castlebar will be revised in the coming year

Cllr Ger Deere, who was later elected as leas-Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District, said that Cllr McDonnell has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to planning and that will be needed to guide the councillors.

Members of the Castlebar Municipal District also paid tribute to Cllr Donna Sheridan after her term of Cathaoirleach came to an end. She was described as being a fair Cathaoirleach who represented the municipal district with distinction and delivered for the area.

Elsewhere, the Cathaoirligh of the Ballina and Claremorris/Swinford Municipal Districts were also elected following the annual meetings of the respective municipal districts.

Killala-based Fine Gael councillor Jarlath Munnelly was elected Cathaoirleach of Ballina Municipal District with Fianna Fáil councillor Annie May Reape elected leas-Cathaoirleach.

Ballinrobe-based Fine Gael councillor Michael Burke was elected Cathaoirleach of the Claremorris/Swinford Municipal District with Kilkelly-based Fianna Fáil councillor John Caulfield elected leas-Cathaoirleach.

The annual meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District is to take place on Monday.