New Cathaoirleach for NWRA
The Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) elected a new Cathaoirleach and Leas Cathaoirleach at their AGM, held on Friday 12th July 2024.
Cllr. Jarlath Munnelly, Mayo County Council, Fine Gael has been elected as the Cathaoirleach for 2024-2025, succeeding Cllr. John Naughten from Roscommon County Council. Cllr Declan McDonnell Independent Galway City Council was elected as Leas Cathaoirleach.
Cllr. Munnelly has been an elected member of Mayo County Council since 2004, representing the Ballina Electoral Area. He was first nominated to the Northern and Western Regional Assembly in 2019.
The new Cathaoirleach’s first meeting was a busy one, with the announcement by government that the consultation was now open on the first Draft revision to the National Planning Framework. The NWRA’s “Regional Infrastructure Tracker” report was also launched at the meeting, which analysed the latest developments regarding investment in infrastructure in the Northern and Western Region. The Cathaoirleach said that the report lays bare the ‘historical deficit of investments in infrastructure of scale across the Northern and Western Region and this of huge concern to me. As Cathaoirleach I intend to advocate strongly on behalf of this region that measures are taken to reverse that trend and enable our region to harness its potential for the benefit of our citizens.”
The Director of the NWRA, Denis Kelly, said: “Cllr. Jarlath Munnelly has been a valued Member of the Assembly for many years and we, the executive of the assembly, look forward to assisting him in his new role as Cathaoirleach”.
