The vision, foresight, and commitment of outgoing county manager Dan McLoughlin were praised as he attended his last meeting of Westmeath County Council on Monday this week.
Mr McLoughlin is moving to a new position as county manager of South County Dublin Council, after seven years at the helm of Westmeath County Council.
Speaking on behalf of the Fine Gael group, Cllr Mark Cooney said, “Westmeath’s loss is South County Dublin’s gain. I would like to thank him for his contribution and commitment to the development of the county. It has been a difficult time, but we have been able to weather the storm better than other counties.”
Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Paddy Hill said the county manager had guided the council through its most difficult time in recent history.
“The people of Westmeath owe him a debt of gratitude for leaving the county in an excellent state. There are no words to pay tribute for the amount of work he has done in the county and his great foresight and vision in every project. I hope our paths will cross as you come through the county and the good network of roads you are leaving behind,” he added.
Labour’s Cllr Mick Dollard drew attention to the reduction in the budget deficit during Mr McLoughlin’s tenure.
“The budget deficit was €6.2 million in 2005, now it is €1.8 million. My great regret is that you weren’t here 10-12 years ago during the Celtic Tiger,” he told the manager.
“A number of projects will be seen as the legacy of Danny McLoughlin; he had a huge interest in sporting organisations and always had a plan to ensure funding. It was he who introduced the Cathaoirleach Awards which have been hugely successful,” he added.
Mr McLoughlin said it had been “an honour and a privilege” to serve the county for the past seven years, thanking both councillors and council staff.
“My feet have never touched the floor any morning when I said I didn’t want to be here doing this. We have had to put in place considerable reform, and I can’t thank you enough for your support. I would also like to express my appreciation to communities from Finea to Ballinahown, who have shown remarkable volunteerism and support for the local authority, and the businesses who have had to just hang in there.”
Mr McLoughlin ended with an appeal to councillors to stick together as a unit to promote the county, and to engage in “minimal of political rhetoric” in the run-up to next year’s local elections.
