Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
416. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of a campaign in Drogheda (details supplied); if he will outline the legislative process or current arrangements in place to obtain city status in Irish law; if he is considering making the necessary administrative and-or legislative arrangements to have Drogheda designated as a city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26243/23]
View answerThe question of city status for Drogheda is not being considered at the moment. The National Planning Framework published in 2018 sets out a vision and strategy for the spatial development of Ireland to 2040. The Framework recognises the strategic importance of Drogheda and aims to support its development and its economic potential as part of the Dublin-Belfast Corridor and in particular the core Drogheda-Dundalk-Newry network. Drogheda’s role is reflected at a regional level in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly area. The RSES targets significant growth into the regional growth centres, including Drogheda, to enable them to act as regional drivers. In 2021 both Meath and Louth County Councils adopted new Development Plans which further underline the importance of Drogheda as a key urban centre in both counties.
There is also a Programme for Government commitment to the statutory mandate to update the NPF in 2024. In that context, initial preparatory work for the first revision to the NPF is currently underway. An in-house team has been established within my Department who are tasked with developing a proposed roadmap, determining the scope of the potential revision and examining all of the related governance and operational requirements, should Government make a decision to revise the NPF.
Local government areas are specified in primary legislation. The Local Government Act 2001 currently provides for three cities, namely Cork, Dublin and Galway, and for each of these to have a city council.
If an additional city council was to be established, it would have significant implications for the county in which the area concerned is situated, particularly around loss of functions of the relevant county council. Creation of a “Drogheda city” local authority would have a major impact on Co Louth, leaving the county council with much reduced territorial jurisdiction, population, and resources. This would be further complicated by the fact that the area being proposed for Drogheda to qualify as a city includes part of Co Meath.
For a city council to be established, provision would have to be made for this and other consequential matters in the relevant legislation. There are no plans for legislation in this regard.
