New cathaoirleach in Tipperary pledges focus on housing and road safety
Fianna Fáil councillor JP O’Meara has been elected cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District, just 18 months after first winning a council seat.
At the annual general meeting of Nenagh MD, the Fianna Fáil councillor was elected to lead the district for the coming year.
Cllr O’Meara was proposed by outgoing cathaoirleach Cllr Phyll Bugler and was seconded by independent councillor Pamela Quirke O’Meara.
Speaking after his election, Cllr JP O’Meara said it was a proud day for him and his family, and that his main issue for his term at the helm will be housing.
“As we know, the majority of work we do as councillors is done behind the scenes, a lot of it is diverse and private when families and individuals come to us for help,” Cllr O’Meara said.
“The number one issue for all of us at present is housing. Close to 70 social housing units are nearing completion at Tyone, along with other private developments in the town, as well as the recent announcement by the council to progress development of social housing at a number of council-owned sites in the town,” he added.
Roads and road safety will also form a pivotal part of his time in charge, Cllr O’Meara said, adding that the Be Safe, Be Seen campaign needed to be made a priority once again.
“While we welcome the upgrades to roads across the district, and commend the work of the council staff and contractors, we are desperately in need of an increase in roads funding from the Government.
Cathaoirleach of the Nenagh MD Cllr JP O’Meara and Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Seamie Morris. © Katie O’Donovan
“I intend to be more vocal about road safety during this term. Speeding is an extremely serious issue that’s affecting all of our towns and villages, along with serious concerns I have around the visibility of pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooter users,” Cllr O’Meara said.
“We need to make the Be Safe Be Seen campaign a priority on our roads once again,” he added.
Paying tribute to outgoing chair Cllr Phyll Bugler and past Cathaoirleach Cllr Fiona Bonfield, Cllr O’Meara said that he has big boots to fill for the coming year.
“I’d like to congratulate Cllr Bugler on her successful term as Cathaoirleach. She carried out her role with class and professionalism, as did Cllr Fiona Bonfield the year previously,” he said.
In her outgoing speech, Cllr Bugler said that it was an honour to lead the district over the past 12 months.
“Another success story was the funding of €500,000 that was secured by Tipperary County Council to renovate the 19th century Nenagh Gaol block. This investment intends to open this historic building to the public as part of the historic and cultural quarter,” Cllr Bugler said.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their help over the last 12 months and thank all the staff within the district,” she added.
District administrator of enagh MD Rosemary Joyce said that Cllr Bugler’s town of Ballina can be proud of her for the service she gave, and said that Cllr O’Meara was following two very strong women who led the district before him.
Independent councillor Seamie Morris was elected as leas cathaoirleach for the coming year, after being proposed by Cllr Joe Hannigan.