Athlone Mayor outlines his priorities for Westmeath's three Ministers
Fianna Fáil Mayor of Athlone and Moate Municipal District Cllr Frankie Keena has warmly welcomed the fact that Westmeath now has three Ministers, with a senior minister post going to Peter Burke and both Robert Troy and Kevin Boxer Moran securing junior minister posts.
“This is a good news story for Westmeath and indeed the full constituency. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to our three deputies on securing their new ministerial briefs. It is a tremendous achievement, and I have no doubt they will bring expertise, dedication, and vision to their respective important roles,” he said.
“These three appointments are so important for the future development of Athlone as a regional growth centre and I do hope that they recognise that and take action on this matter. A thriving developing Athlone will have a positive economic effect on all other towns in the region,” he said.
Mayor Keena also outlined matters he intends to raise with the ministers, including the need for a new major industry for Athlone, which he said fell under the brief of the new Minister for Enterprise and Tourism Peter Burke.
“We have the landbank thanks to the foresight of the IDA but now we need another positive engagement from the IDA and the Minister to secure such an industry,” he said.
Cllr Keena also called for Athlone's tourism potential to be better utilised.
He said there was a need for kayaking and canoeing centres, more infrastructure to support the fishing industry like landbank boardwalks, more slipways and more moorings for cruisers in Athlone.
“I ask the question why not look for a major international educational/theme park to be located in Athlone? I have some suggestions in mind on such theme parks that I will be engaging with Minister Burke on,” he said.
As Minister Robert Troy's brief covers insurance, he highlighted how it is next to impossible for some property owners to get insurance after flood damage.
“In addition to this the severe damage caused by Storm Eowyn may result in significant challenges for property owners to secure future insurance. I look forward to engaging with Minister Troy on these plus other financial matters relevant to Athlone and surrounding district,” he said.
Mayor Keena also indicated he would engage with Minister for State Kevin 'Boxer' Moran on the issue of limited car parking in Glasson village.
“A solution is the availability of suitable OPW land beside the Garda Station in Glasson that would be ideal for parking. It is so important that this land is made available to the local community for parking and the future sustainable development of Glasson village,” he emphasised.
He said also that if councillors are successful in their legal challenge to the locating of an IPAS centre in Lissywollen, that it would be paramount that the OPW makes this land available sporting organisations and other community users.
And he said he would be urging the three Ministers to secure Government agreement to introduce a borrowing framework for Technological Universities to allow them build student accommodation.
“It is a ridiculous situation that currently exists to see that TUS, for example, is not allowed borrow to build student accommodation,” he said.
Mayor Keena also called for the three Ministers to come together and fight to get the army headquarters, as proposed in the Commission for the Defence Forcdes, to be located in Athlone.
“A decision on this has been deferred for a long time. Political pressure is required to secure this HQ status for Custume Barracks and now is the time to deliver,” he said.