Kieran Kehoe takes up role of new Chief Executive of Meath Co Council

Meath Co Council has a new Chief Executive with Laois native, Kieran Kehoe beginning his tenure last Monday.

Mr Kehoe, a former Director of Service with Waterford City & County Council succeeds Fiona Lawless who had taken over from Jackie Maguire.

Mr Kehoe graduated from UCD in 1994 with a degree in Engineering and commenced work in the construction industry as a steelwork design engineer before progressing to the role of project manager with responsibility for projects ranging from €100K to €10M in Ireland, UK, and Middle East.

"In 2002, I started with Laois County Council as an Executive Engineer in Water Services and progressed to Senior Executive Officer with responsibility for Planning & Economic Development. In 2012, I was appointed Director of Service in Laois County Council with responsibility for Planning, Economic Development, Roads & Transportation, H&S, Emergency Services and Portlaoise Town Manager.

"In February 2019, I was appointed Director of Service with Waterford City & County Council with responsibility for Corporate Services, Culture, HR, IS and Dungarvan Town Manager and in March 2022, I also took on responsibility for Planning. I have been involved in the delivery of the North Quays Strategic Development Zone project in Waterford City which secured €120M URDF funding for the public infrastructure element as well as a €250M private mixed-use development on the site.

"I have led the LA sector in response to such issues as unfinished housing estates, road opening licence standardisation through the Joint Utility Local Authority Forum, Sectoral Response to the Covid pandemic, sectoral blended working policy and more recently in relation to the new Planning Act, Planning Fees Review, National Planning Framework review and Planning Resources Review Group."

Read the full interview with the new Chief Executive in next week's paper!