TWICE THE SIZE - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of Technology

Furthermore, in 2017, Letterkenny celebrated the opening of the county’s first arts centre in
conjunction with Letterkenny Institute of Education (LIT). The LIT always encouraged and
supported economic development through knowledge transfer initiatives. The centre became a
forum providing creativity, dialogue, performance, publication and exhibition, as well as
establishing the first opera house in the region. Letterkenny had positioned itself as the hub of
the creative industry in Ireland, which attracted other indigenous small-medium enterprises to
develop and flourish here. However, the downside to this development was the decline of the
traditional industries such as textiles, fishing, and farming. In addition, businesses were taxed at
high rates which led to complaints that the local government were promoting the BIDs in an
attempt to push over the maintenance of public spaces to the business community.
Nevertheless, economically Letterkenny became self-sufficient and needed very little foreign
direct investment.
Thursday, June 12 th , 2030
What city leaders heard…
Yesterday was a day for stakeholders to sound off on a number of issues that will drive
Letterkenny’s future development. Since the Ireland First party came into power in 2015,
emphasis was placed on the delivery of services on a more autonomous basis. However, plans,
issue and opportunities had to be heard by the directly elected mayor, John McGrath, which
became a problem in itself. The BID is now calling for an impartial board to advocate on behalf
of business and residents allowing them to communicate a unified vision that presses local
government on issues that help’s the city regeneration, as well as to improve social access and
civic duty.
Also, on the agenda was the matter of the proposed detention centre. The inevitable protests
that will shut down the centre of the new town and businesses will be affected on that day.
Nevertheless, we want to send a clear message out to the local and national authorities, that
the citizens of Letterkenny do not want a detention facility anywhere near their community.
Since first coming into power, the Ireland First Party has continued to neglect it social cohesion
policy. Crime rates are on the rise and employment is in decline. This does not mean
Letterkenny has to pick up the pieces by facilitating them with a detention centre in our
vicinity. No Thank You!
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