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YEAR OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES SEES DROGHEDA FALL OFF FINANCIAL TIMES ‘CITIES OF THE FUTURE’ LIST

5 June 2020

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Drogheda has fallen off the prestigious Financial Times-backed ‘Cities of the Future’ list because of ‘a year of missed opportunities’ for the area, Deputy Ged Nash has said.

 

The Labour TD explained;

 

“These are the kinds of reports investors look at and take seriously. The 2018/19 FT (FDI supplement) Intelligence Unit annual report had Drogheda in the top ten ‘micro-cities of the future’ list in terms of economic potential (one place ahead of Monaco), fifth in the category of ‘business friendliness’ and 8th across Europe in terms of cities of under 100,000 people for ‘connectivity’.

 

“Sadly, Drogheda has now dropped out of the top ten with Dundalk having entered the top ten in three categories in the 2020/21 report, coming first in the ‘human capital/lifestyle’ category for micro-cities of the future.

“The Financial Times experts had recognised Drogheda’s potential back in 2018/2019, yet the government still doesn’t.

 

“Drogheda’s potential as Ireland’s next city seems obvious to everyone except this government.

 

“We have had a year of missed opportunities where we are no closer to city status and the securing of significant jobs-rich foreign direct investment.

 

“As our economy starts to switch back on and as we begin to plan for a post-pandemic Ireland, we need to get serious about how we work, the future of work and proper and sustainable regional, spatial and economic planning and Drogheda’s place in Ireland’s future.”

 

Ends.