New Cathaoirleach and Leas Chathaoirleach Elected in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
12/06/2012
At the Annual Meeting of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which took place last night (Mon 11 June) in County Hall, Fine Gael Councillor Tom Joyce was elected to the office of An Cathaoirleach, with Labour Councillor Stephen Fitzpatrick elected to the office of Leas-Chathaoirleach.
Speaking to the full Council following his election, the newly elected Cathaoirleach stated that he would be pursuing a number of key objectives during his term of office. Councillor Joyce said “My overriding concern is that we continue the implementation of the Fine Gael-Labour programme agreed at the beginning of this Council", adding that of primary importance would be the delivery of the Council's ambitious Parks and Leisure programme across the county.
Councillor Joyce said that he was delighted to see that the planning process had commenced for the Samuel Beckett Civic Centre in Ballyogan, an investment of €9 million in community facilities, including a gym, community centre and an 18 acre park with all-weather facilities. "I also very much welcome the news of further developments in Marley Park, including a new synthetic football pitch", he said. Councillor Joyce also highlighted recent discussions that have taken place between the Council and Dundrum South Dublin Athletic club in relation to a synthetic athletics track and associated facilities.
In his acceptance speech Councillor Joyce referred to a number of other projects that would be delivered within his term of office, including Loughlinstown Swimming Pool and the final phase of the covering over of the Dart Line outside the People's Park in Dún Laoghaire.
" These facilities and services are in many ways our closest links with the public we represent and they act as a barometer in the public mind as to the level of service provided by the Council", he said.
ENDS
Background:
• Councillor Tom Joyce has represented the Fine Gael Party in the Glencullen Ward since 2003, when he was co-opted to replace Councillor Olivia Mitchell, following her Election to the Dáil. He was re- elected in the 2009 election in the renamed Sandyford-Glencullen ward.
• He currently serves on the Organisation Procedure and Protocol Committee and the Joint Policing Committee. He will chair the current Organisation Procedure and Protocol Committee as Cathaoirleach. He will also be an ex-officio member of dlr Leisure Services Board of Directors as the new Cathaoirleach.
• He is also a member of the Local Authorities Members Committee on Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area. Councillor Joyce is part of a wider collection of people who want to put Sandyford Business Estate back on the map. This is called the Sandyford Business District Alliance.
• Councillor Stephen Fitzpatrick, a Labour Councillor for the Dún Laoghaire electoral area, was first elected in June 2009 to the Dún Laoghaire Ward of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
• Following his election Councillor Fitzpatrick was nominated by the Council to the Dublin Regional Authority, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership, Southside Partnership, and to the Dún Laoghaire Vocational Educational Committee where he is Vice Chair.
• He also sits on the board of the Dún Laoghaire College of Further Education and the Governing Body of the Institute of Art, Design, and Technology, Dún Laoghaire, where he was a former student. Councillor Fitzpatrick previously worked as Education Officer of Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) student's union 2004 - 2006.
All queries to the Communications Office / commsoffice@dlrcoco.ie / (01) 204 7090.
