City Neighbourhoods launched

28/05/2003

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"City Neighbourhoods" Launched

"Tidy Towns" gets street-wise as Minister Gallagher announces new sister competition for City areas

Mr. Pat the Cope Gallagher, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government today (28 May 2003) launched City Neighbourhoods, an exciting new competition for residential and commercial districts in the 5 major cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford which will compete for the title "Best City Neighbourhood in Ireland".

"The overriding objective of the City Neighbourhoods competition is to improve the quality of life of all city dwellers by making our cities more attractive places to live work or visit." the Minister said today. "Tidy Towns has made a major contribution in transforming the physical appearance of Irish towns and villages since its inception in the late 1950s. This new sister competition "City Neighbourhoods" aims to replicate that success in a city context by mobilising the same community effort in partnership with business interests, local authorities and state bodies."

The competition will be run on a pilot basis for the first two years, during which City Councils are being asked to nominate areas to compete for the titles of Best Residential Area, Best Urban Village and Best City Street from which will be selected the Best City Neighbourhood in Ireland.

Thanking the five City Managers for their support and assistance in developing this new pilot initiative, the Minister added "Local Agenda 21" and the restructured local government system have given City Councils a new dynamic role in fostering partnerships at the local level to promote higher standards of environmental awareness and practice. City Neighbourhoods will form a key part in this local environmental strategy. I would urge all those interested to contact their City Councils and get involved today"

The City Neighbourhoods Competition is organised by the Tidy Towns Unit of the Department of the Environment and Local Government.