DEA Public Meetings To Be Held Across Newry Mourne And Down Council Area

Are you interested in learning what your local District Electoral Area (DEA) Forum do?

Want to have an input into deciding Newry Mourne and Down District Council priorities for development and spending?

Would you like to learn how you can play a part in shaping your community’s future? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, make sure to make a note in your diary of your relevant DEA public meeting coming soon to your area.

The chairpersons of the DEA's in Newry Mourne and Down District Council show off their areas: pictured from left are Haroild McKee (The Mournes), Wiliam Walker (Rowallene), Eddie Curtis, Assistant Chief Executive with Council Chair Cllr Naomi Bailie, Garth Craig (Slieve Croob), Declan McAteer (Crotlieve), Valerie Harte (Newry City), and front, Colin McGrath (Downpatrick) with Barra O Muiri (Slieve Gullion).
The chairpersons of the DEA’s in Newry Mourne and Down District Council show off their areas: pictured from left are Haroild McKee (The Mournes), Wiliam Walker (Rowallene), Eddie Curtis, Assistant Chief Executive with Council Chair Cllr Naomi Bailie, Garth Craig (Slieve Croob), Declan McAteer (Crotlieve), Valerie Harte (Newry City), and front, Colin McGrath (Downpatrick) with Barra O Muiri (Slieve Gullion).

DISTRICT ELECTORAL AREA

* Rowallane  – Tuesday 23 February  at 7pm in the Market House, Ballynahinch.

* Downpatrick – Wednesday 24 February at 7pm in the Ballymote Community and Business Centre.

* Slieve Croob – Thursday 25 February at 7pm in Annsborough Community Centre.

Meetings in the other DEA’s in the Council area will be scheduled for March/April.

The public meetings will give residents the chance to meet their local DEA Forum members and find out more about the process for nominating Community Representatives. In addition the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA), who are overseeing the appointment of eight DEA community members, will outline their approach to the selection procedure to ensure as representative a spread as possible.

Newry Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Mickey Ruane, said: “DEA Forums will provide communities with a voice in local Government and will give them the opportunity to participate in discussions and operate as part of the decision making process. The establishment of this engagement infrastructure will further enable the community to effectively inform and influence the Community Planning process at a strategic level.”

Following each DEA Meeting, Officers from PEACE IV will be in attendance to outline the levels of funding available and the type of projects that will be awarded grants.