Major restructuring in City Hall

Senior management in City Hall is to undergo a “restructuring exercise”, it was announced on Wednesday.

The newly appointment Chief Executive of Cork City Council Valerie O’Sullivan has announced the “restructuring exercise which will see the new senior management assignments and directorates active from December this year”. The number of directorates remains at eight with the current Assistant Chief Executive, Brian Geaney, assuming overall responsibility for the Cork Docklands regeneration project, planning and development, the city centre, and housing.

Ms O’Sullivan said: “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.

“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.

Fearghal Reidy who currently spearheads the Strategic Economic Development directorate will lead a new directorate called Climate, Energy and City Designations.

A new post and directorate has been created called 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.

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 will remain as Director of Infrastructure.