’Murder of councillors’ always come up trumps

AS he was elevated to the position of Cathaoirleach of Newcastle West area, Fine Gael councillor Liam Galvin told Limerick Council...

AS he was elevated to the position of Cathaoirleach of Newcastle West area, Fine Gael councillor Liam Galvin told Limerick Council that he wants to see more focus on housing during his term.

Speaking at last Friday’s district AGM (Jun 19), Cllr Galvin suggested that the area councilors sit down with Mayor John Moran and Director General Dr Pat Daly to discuss housing allocations, housing maintenance, vacant properties, and dereliction.

The Abbeyfeale man took the view that the delivery of housing in West Limerick, since amalgamating Limerick City and County Councils, has failed.

“I want to see us deal with vacant properties out in the area office here. I feel that the system that’s there since we amalgamated hasn’t worked. I think we’ve been let down by that system, and I think that it’s up to the six of us here to sit down and discuss what we’d like to see brought out to this office.

“I don’t think there’s another group of councillors working as effectively as is happening here. What’s a group of councillors called?” Galvin asked his Council colleagues.

“There’s a thing called a murder of crows – a murder of councillors,” Fine Gael man John Sheahan replied.

Joking aside, Cllr Galvin pointed out that “there’s times we don’t agree, but at the end of the day we will always come up with a solution that will work”.

“It’s not for us at all, but the people we represent,” he insisted.

Cllr John Sheahan (FG), who was appointed Leas Cathaoirleach of Newcastle West District, took the view that the role of Cathaoirleach has “taken a back seat” since the introduction of a directly-elected mayor.

“I do think there’s scope there within ourselves to reinvent the role of a chair of a municipal district because it is a very important position,” Cllr Sheahan opined.

Fianna Fail councillor Michael Collins agreed with Cllr Galvin that the district is one of the most successful for getting large infrastructure projects completed.

“We have a lot in the pipeline and I know you will be cutting tapes for those projects that have come to fruition from next month onwards. We have multi-million projects already underway,” Cllr Collins enthused.

Independent councillor Jerome Scanlan commended Cllr Galvin for his commitment to planning in terms of what’s needed for localities and had full confidence this was something he would strive for during his term.

“My sentiments entirely, when you speak about the housing issue. We need to bring accountability and management of housing back to the locality. I would ask you to have the Mayor deliver for Newcastle West.

“I know you have a reasonable relationship with the Mayor and whatever way we feel about the position, he’s here for the next three years, so he’s got to be worked with. Do what you can to build a great relationship and have him bring more money to this municipal area,” Cllr Scanlan said.

Cllr Galvin told Council members that he spoke to the Mayor on the phone for an hour earlier the same day and took the view that Mayor Moran was only “a cog in a big wheel”.

“As a group, we need to work with the Mayor, work with the executive. The day that stops is the day we fall off the bandwagon,” he concluded.