Top council official for roads and housing welcomed to Claremorris-Swinford area

MAYO County Council’s top council official for roads and housing has been welcomed in his new role as Director of Services for the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District.

Tom Gilligan, the local authority’s director of services for housing and roads, has said he wants to ‘make a real stab’ at tackling vacancy and dereliction in the Claremorris-Swinford area.

In June, there were 264 properties listed on the Derelict Sites Register in Mayo. 

Addressing his first meeting as Director of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District, Mr Gilligan described vacancy and dereliction as ‘a blight’.

Outlining his priorities, Mr Gilligan said he wanted to see the development of more social and affordable housing in the area and expedite the delivery of the Knock Airport Strategic Development Zone (SDZ). 

He also highlighted the need for improved safety measures on the N17, which has been the scene of fatal accidents in recent years. 

He added that the Claremorris-Swinford area - which covers one-third of Mayo - was a ‘prime location’ for development given its location between the cities of Galway and Sligo. 

Mr Gilligan previously served as Director of Services for the Ballina Municipal District and takes over his new role from Joanne Grehan, who is now Director of Services for the Westport Municipal District area.