Louth senator demands urgent roadmap to city status

Louth's Senator Alison Comyn has made an appeal in the Seanad for Drogheda to be officially recognised as Ireland’s next city, warning that the town’s rapid growth is being undermined by outdated governance and lack of investment. 

Speaking directly to Minister of State Christopher O’Sullivan, Senator Comyn called for the establishment of a Drogheda City Status Task Force within 12 months to develop a clear roadmap towards full city status and proper governance for the region.

“I’m not just standing here as a Senator — I’m speaking as someone born and raised in Drogheda,” she said. “We are growing like a city, but still being governed like a small town. That is failing our people every single day.”

Drogheda now has a population in excess of 50,000, rising to approximately 80,000 when surrounding areas in East Meath are included — larger than Waterford, and on track to surpass Limerick and Galway within a decade.

The senator said that despite this, the area is governed by two separate county councils (Louth and Meath), with no unified local authority or city-level status. She told the Seanad that the people of Drogheda are falling between two stools.

She said parents are struggling to find school places for their children, public transport is overcrowded, GP practices are full, and daily traffic gridlock is getting worse. New housing developments continue to rise, she said, but the infrastructure to support them simply hasn’t kept pace. 

While Minister O’Sullivan acknowledged Drogheda’s growth and importance as a key urban centre along the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor, he noted the complexities around establishing a new city council, particularly across two counties. He indicated that future discussions — possibly through the upcoming Local Democracy Task Force — could explore Drogheda’s status, including the return of town or borough councils.

 "There is potential for discussion on the future of Drogheda, and we might develop that further." Minister O'Sullivan stated, "Perhaps, Drogheda's status as a city could also be looked at in that process. It is certainly something I will bring to the senior Minister," he said.

In response, Senator Comyn welcomed the dialogue but stressed the urgency of action:

“We’re not looking for prestige — we’re looking for proper planning, investment and accountability. Drogheda’s future cannot be left to vague discussions or political hesitation. The people of Drogheda deserve a clear path forward, and I won’t stop pushing until we get it.”

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Senator Comyn said she welcomed any meaningful discussion on the future of Drogheda, but stressed that dialogue alone is not enough. She argued that the scale of Drogheda’s growth demands more than a return to limited local government structures — and that only city status, or a model that reflects the scale and complexity of the area, will deliver for residents.

Senator Comyn concluded by saying that she will not give up on this issue, and will continue to fight for the people of Drogheda until the town receives the recognition, governance and investment it deserves.

“This is too important to be left in limbo. Drogheda has waited long enough,” she said. “We need action. We need vision. And we need to finally make Drogheda Ireland’s next city.”