New Cork City Council chief appoints senior executive to drive docklands development

The redevelopment of the Cork Docklands has been planned for decades with significant change occurring over the past 10 years around the redevelopment of areas of Kent station and Penrose Quay. File picture: Denis Scannell

The new Chief Executive of Cork City Council Valerie O'Sullivan has announced a restructuring of the local authority's top directors with the current Assistant Chief Executive Brian Geaney assuming responsibility for the Cork Docklands regeneration project

The changes by Ms O'Sullivan will see the new senior management assignments and directorates come into effect in December. The number of directorates remains at eight.

The redevelopment of the Cork Docklands has been planned for decades with significant change occurring over the past 10 years around the redevelopment of areas of Kent station and Penrose Quay.

Significant works are expected on the South Docks in the coming years with work commencing by O'Callaghan Properties on a major residential development fronting Kennedy Quay.

"The changes in management and directorate structure reflect my priorities for the city and our organisation. It is an exciting time with development and regeneration occurring at a pace not previously seen. Our focus will be on delivery and we will reshape our teams to achieve that," Ms O'Sullivan said.

"We are conscious of maintaining service continuity as the re-alignment is undertaken but these changes are required to deliver on our targets for the people of Cork. It is my belief that this restructure will aid in and accelerate delivery of positive changes for the citizens of Cork, and I have every faith in staff to make this happen, in partnership with the Elected Members of Council,” she said.

Along with the docklands, Mr Geaney will assume responsibility for Planning and Development, the City Centre, and Housing. Fearghal Reidy who currently spearheads the Strategic Economic Development directorate will now lead a new directorate titled Climate, Energy and City Designations.

A new post and directorate has been created titled City Centre Development and Operations, currently being processed by the Public Appointments Service and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Local Area Development and Operations will be overseen by former director of Corporate Affairs, Paul Moynihan. David Joyce who has managed the Operations Directorate switches to Service Redesign and Emergency Management. 

The current director of Community, Rebecca Loughry will now oversee a Corporate and Community Directorate which will incorporate Community, Arts and Culture, the Local Enterprise Office, and Cork City Libraries.

Niall Ó’Donnabháin will now take charge of Planning and Development incorporating City Architects, Property and Economic Development. Alison O’Rourke will head the Housing Directorate. Gerry O’Beirne remains as Director of Infrastructure.