New cathaoirleach outlines his priorities

THE newly elected cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Cllr Tom Joyce (FG), has outlined his vision for the next 12 months of his tenure.

He revealed that the delivery of the local authority’s parks and leisure programme and the Cherrywood SDZ scheme would be his priorities while he is in office.

At the annual meeting of the council, which took place on Monday, June 11, Cllr Joyce was elected to the office of An Cathaoirleach of the local authority.

Cllr Stephen Fitzpatrick (Lab) was elected to the office of Leas-Chathaoirleach.

This will be Cllr Joyce’s second tenure as cathaoirleach of the county council, as he also presided over the order of business in the council chamber in 2008/09.

Cllr Joyce said the delivery of the council’s parks and leisure programme would be of primary importance during his term in office.

He said he was delighted to see that the planning process had commenced for the Samuel Beckett Civic Centre in Ballyogan, which is an investment of e9 million in community facilities to include a gym, a community centre and an 18-acre park with all-weather facilities.

He also referred to a number of other projects that would be delivered within his term of office, including Loughlinstown swimming pool and the final phase of the covering over of the DART line outside the People’s Park in Dún Laoghaire.

“These facilities and services are in many ways our closest links with the public we represent,

? he said.

“They act as a barometer in the public mind as to the level of service provided by the council.

?

He said he would also like to continue the work done by outgoing cathaoirleach Cllr John Bailey (FG) who has promoted employment, business and tourism in the county.

“The need for infrastructure to attract tourism is important,

? he stated.

“We can do a broad range of things by continuing to attract attention to the county and presenting a positive image from a business point of view. We can try to attract more tourism related things to boost the image of the county so that it is more on the map.

?

Cllr Joyce also believes it is vitally important that county councillors carefully consider the Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone, which they will ultimately vote on.

The draft planning scheme for the SDZ outlines plans for the development of a 360-hectare area. The scheme, which has been drafted by the council, would consist of three new villages, served by a town centre.

Cllr Joyce said the council should try to ascertain if developers will have the funding in place to press ahead with their individual proposals before making decisions on certain aspects of the SDZ proposal.

“It is how the plan could be implemented over the next 15 to 20 years that is important,

? he added.

“It is matter of trying to get our heads around how this will work and how it can be phased and what is realistic. If there is the possibility that investment will come we need to look at that seriously.

?