Cabinet agrees new local government structure for Athlone
New local government legislation is to pave the way for a new committee of both Westmeath and Roscommon to deal with the overall development of Athlone.
In a statement this lunchtime, Deputy Denis Naughten announced the new legally-underpinned joint structure, which he said had now received Cabinet approval.
And he said the legislation would also result in a successful conclusion to the Save Roscommon campaign.
He said the the new Local Government legislation to be published in the coming months would also include a clear legal guarantee for the permanent integrity of the identity of County Roscommon.
“As a result of my work with Ministers Eoghan Murphy and John Paul Phelan on designating Athlone as a major centre in the new National Planning Framework we have now received Cabinet approval to put a new cooperative structure in place which allows Athlone to develop in a coordinated manner while protecting Roscommon’s county boundary,” explained Minister Naughten.
“A new legally established joint structure will deal with the development and other interests of both parts of the town of Athlone, rather than altering the county boundary. This will be underpinned by a new law of which will provide clarity once and for all by protecting the existing county boundary and removing the possibility of any disagreement in the future.
“The statutory joint structure will be composed of equal membership from both Roscommon and Westmeath County Councils. It will have designated responsibility for development and planning including responsibility for certain key strategic matters beyond the existing standard functions of Councils, especially in relation to spatial and economic planning and development.
“These structures will also have responsibility for transportation strategy, forward planning and land use designation, and retail strategy as well as any other such matters as both Roscommon and Westmeath Councils agree. Such structures will not, however, have responsibility for delivering existing functions of Roscommon County Council except with the express agreement of the Council.”
Minister Naughten added: “There will be a new clear legal guarantee for the permanent integrity of the identity of County Roscommon and traditional allegiance through legislative provision to copper-fasten the status of counties as territorial units.
“It expected that this new legal protection will be included in a Local Government Bill to be published by the end of May 2018.”