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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Cllr Damien Ryan (Fianna Fáil) pictured following his election as Cathaoirleach of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District, with Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr Alma Gallagher (Fine Gael)
THE new Cathaoirleach of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District has called for the setting of regional policing forums in each municipal district in Mayo.
Cllr Damien Ryan called for a committee to be set up in each municipal district area ahead of the replacement of the existing Joint Policing Committees (JPCs).
The JPCs, which comprised elected representatives and members of An Garda Síochána, are due to be replaced by so-called community safety partnerships.
Speaking following his election as Cathaoirleach today (Wednesday), Cllr Ryan described the JPCs as ‘one of the most effective bodies’ in the local authority.
“We need MD [municipal district] JPCS and we need to work with our respective superintendents in the respective geographical areas,” the Ballinrobe-based representative said.
“Irrespective of what the national model is, that’s critically important to a good county or good district going forward. That’s something that I would be asking for and I would be asking to meet the superintendent with management with a view to setting up a forum like that.”
Cllr Ryan was proposed by his Fianna Fáil colleague, Cllr John Caulfield, and seconded by Ballinrobe-based Fine Gael councillor Michael Burke. Newly-elected councillor Alma Gallagher – the first woman ever elected in the Claremorris Local Electoral Area - was elected as Leas-Cathaoirleach.
There was no counter-proposal tabled for the position of Cathaoirleach.
Cllr Ryan also called for more progress on the proposed Ballinrobe bypass, the Strategic Development Zone in Knock Airport and tackling dereliction in the municipal district.
Cllr Paul Lawless of Aontú and Cllr Alma Gallagher of Fine Gael also sat for the first time as elected representatives at the Annual General Meeting of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District.
Tributes were paid to Cllr Tom Connolly (Fine Gael) who lost his seat in the recent local election after a lengthy service as an elected representative.
Councillors also called for the Western Rail Corridor to be advanced from Claremorris as far as Collooney in Sligo.
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