A number of Cathaoirleach elections have taken place across the Monaghan Municipal Districts in recent days. Cllr Cathy Bennett was chosen as the Cathaoirleach of the Monaghan Municipal District, while Cllr Sean Gilliland was appointed in the Ballybay/Clones MD.
Both Cathaoirleachs spoke to Northern Sound about their election and where their focus will lie for the next 12 or so months. Cllr Bennett highlighted how she wants to see the provision of additional social houses in Co Monaghan.
She also pointed to next year's Local Elections and how she will be ensuring that more women enter the political arena. "We have to lead for the women and young people coming behind us. If they see women at the table then I think they will go and stand for the Council.
"I hope I am leading by example and that I will be able to encourage more women to get involved in local politics. Things like childcare and playgrounds - they are issues that I had when my children were young - are things that I would like to see advanced within Co Monaghan," added Cllr Bennett.
Cllr Gilliland, meanwhile, also pointed to the need for housing in his municipal district. He highlighted the determination now for young people and families to move to towns like Clones and Ballybay so they can be enhanced and developed to become places of choice in which to live and work in.
"I think at one stage there was three if not four tower cranes in Clones last year - all focused on construction, dereliction, taking in charge, and encouraging the community to do up some of their buildings and sell or off-load them to the Council.
"That scheme has now moved to Ballybay because we have an issue with dereliction there. And, because of the current housing crisis, we are encouraging those with vacant or derelict properties to try and do something with it," Cllr Gilliland added.
