‘Economic development is critical to maintaining and improving facilities’

Cathaoirleach of Ratoath Municipal Council, Cllr Brian Fitzgerald

2024 will present us with many challenges, none greater than to remedy the housing crisis in the county. We must be allowed to provide more zoned land for residential proposes to ensure that houses can be more affordable and available to all income levels.

Governments must allow our local authority to move away from high density apartments and be replaced with traditional family homes.

Economic development in the county is critical to maintaining and improving facilities throughout the county. We have seen the benefits that Facebook/Meta, MSD, Avoca, Bracetown development have brought to the county – a rate base that is now generating €50 million in rates from a base of €25 million without increasing the annual rates to customers for over ten years.

We must continue to promote the county as an ideal location to set up business. This would also reduce the numbers commuting for long hours every day, and provide employment for our young people rather than have them emigrate. Housing will also be critical for attracting companies.

The schools road safety programme must continue until every location has traffic calming measures installed. The extra income to the Council by way of commercial rates, residential property tax is making the programme possible. The investment in our local roads must continue also.

Dunboyne College for Further Education must be provided with a purpose-built facility on a green field site without further delay. This College is providing a huge range of courses with very limited facilities. The College can also be very attractive to incoming companies to the county, this has been proven in other countries.

The farming community must be given credit for the hedges and trees planted throughout their farms when measuring carbon footprint.

While Northern Ireland will continue to be a complex issue, local authorities should examine ways to set up relationships with L/A in Northern Ireland with a view to a greater understanding through peaceful means without being a threat to each other. Until the people on this island can live together in peace and harmony the question of territory should not be a priority.

Finally, a number of planning applications for mixed development currently with Bord Pleanalla and Meath County Council will hopefully be granted soon, to allow development to commence.