Offaly CM to take Westmeath role
It’s likely current Offaly county manager Pat Gallagher will take up a new position as Westmeath county manager from February 4 next year, the Offaly Independent can reveal.
Westmeath county councillors will be asked to formally appoint the Tullamore man to the position at a meeting of Westmeath County Council later today (Monday).
According to a letter dated November 19 last and sent to the chairman and members of Westmeath County Council by acting county manager Barry Kehoe, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) recommended Mr Gallagher to council chair Peter Burke for the role on October 21 last.
Mr Gallagher - a former Labour politician who has worked as a county manager in both Galway and Offaly - is willing to accept the position with effect from Monday, February 4, 2014, according to the same letter.
The appointment of county managers is dealt with by the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act 1926. According to Section 6 of that Act “on receiving from the Public Appointments Service (PAS), their recommendation under this section, the local authority shall appoint to the said office the person recommended”.
The matter will come before a meeting of Westmeath councillors scheduled for 3pm today.