Cootehill to push for Irish Water Regional Office
Sean McMahon
Cootehill councillors are set to launch a charm offensive to try to pursuade decision-makers to locate the regional office of the new Irish Water Company in the town.
County Cavan has been guaranteed to be the location for one of the regional offices, and a decision on exactly where in the county is expected in the next few weeks, according to the Cootehill town manager, Peter Gallagher.
Speaking at this week’s meeting of the town council, Mr Gallagher said that Cootehill has been put forward as an option for the office location, but Cavan Town remains the current favourite to get the nod.
Cootehill Town councillors vowed to go into overdrive on a lobbying campaign, to attract the Irish Water Regional office to the town.
The topic was raised in Cootehill's council chamber by Cllr Michael McCarey, when he asked if Cootehill was being considered.
“We have the courthouse here in the town which is a large building. County towns usually end up getting all these type of offices and I think it is important that a town like Cootehill is looked at a centre of Cavan and Monaghan.
'It is well placed within the region and particularly when there is a building there that is not being used. It is also a heritage building and it is important to locate something like the Irish Water Regional office in it, as opposed to going for a new build someplace else,” said Michael McCarey.
Revival
He added that the smaller towns must be considered and councils and government bodies should lead the way in encouraging the survival and the revival of these towns.
“A regional office will not put serious pressure on schools with the possible employment of around 30 people. A town like Cootehill can well accommodate that type of influx of people. I think we do deserve to be looked at for offices and different Government services,” added Cllr McCarey.
Fine Gael Cllr Aidan Boyle agreed tried to rally the other councillors to lobby the deputies to select Cootehill.
“I would encourage every political party to lobby their Deputies, to see if Cootehill can get this regional office. I will do it on my side of the house and I think the other members should take it up on theirs as well. It will take a big effort to convince the powers that be to bring this office to Cootehill,” said Cllr Boyle.
Amazing what can happen
Cllr Vincent McCaul said it would help the rate base, which in turn would help the Council.
Town manager, Peter Gallagher said the issue was close to his heart, adding, “We’ll certainly push Cootehill very hard for the regional office of Irish Water in Cavan. I know that no decision has been made yet as to exactly where it will be located.
'It won’t be a new building as far as I understand – it will be an existing premises. We have promoted a property in Cootehill alright. I have to say it is not the favourite – the county town would be more central and probably more favoured at the moment –but if you can put pressure on, it's amazing what can happen.”
Mr Gallagher said that Irish Water have earmarked eight regional offices for the country and there will be three in Connaught/Ulster. There is one for Cavan, one for Donegal Town and the other is going to Castlebar.
“When they said Cavan, we assumed it was County Cavan, so we pushed Cootehill. We argued as you say, Cootehill is central to Cavan and Monaghan – I don’t know if we have won that argument. They have been shown premises in Cootehill and they have yet to make up their minds. I would say they will have their minds made up in the next couple of weeks”, said Mr Gallagher.
Swiftly
Mr Gallagher explained to Michael McCarey that Irish Water was talking 15 to 30 people working in each regional office.
“It depends on how many people from the locality apply for positions. Then they decide how big an office they need.”
He pointed out that Irish Water has to be established by January 1, 2014 and therefore the decision will be made swiftly.
Chairman Harry McCabe urged members that it was important to lobby on the issue immediately.