Cllr Cathy Bennett, SF, is the new Cavan Monaghan ETB Chairperson. Back (from left): Marie Treanor, CMETB; Cllr Clifford Kelly (FF); Michelle Flynn; Cllr Shane P O'Reilly (FF); Cllr Paddy O'Reilly (FG); Cllr Eugene Greenan (SF); Cllr P.J. O'Hanlon (FF) and Gerardine Heaphey, administrative officer;

Cathy bennett elected as new chairperson of cmetb

Sean McMahon

Published: Mon 14 Sep 2015, 11:47 AM

Last updated: Mon 14 Sep 2015, 12:53 PM

Sinn Féin Councillor Cathy Bennett is the new chairperson of the Cavan Monaghan ETB and the new vice chairperson is former Fine Gael Cllr Sean McKiernan. Both were duly elected unopposed at the recent AGM of the CMETB in Kingscourt last Thursday afternoon.

Cllr Bennett was nominated for the role by her party colleague Colm Carthy and was seconded by Cllr Eugene Greenan (SF).
Meanwhile, Mr McKiernan was proposed for the role of vice chairperson by Cllr Madeleine Argue (FG) and seconded by Jacqui Lewis, also a former Fine Gael councillor. The outgoing chairman Joe McGrath and the outgoing vice chairperson, Cllr Niamh Smyth (FF) wished both the new incumbents every success in their respective roles.
Cllr Bennett, speaking following her appointment, said she was looking forward to the year ahead and thanked all the members of the ETB for allowing her to assume the role of chairperson, which will be rotated on a yearly basis. “The agreement of all board members is essential in the continued progress of this ETB. I would like to congratulate Joe McGrath and Cllr Niamh Smyth, on their very productive year as chairperson and vice chairperson,” said Cllr Bennett.
She also congratulated the Chief Executive Martin O’Brien and his staff on the vast amount of work progressed and completed in the last year and she looks forward to an equally productive year.
“It is a great honour to be selected unopposed today in Kingscourt by my Cavan and Monaghan ETB colleagues to serve as Deputy Chairman for 2015 to 2016”, said Mr McKiernan.
“As Deputy Chairman, I will support the new chairwoman and chief executive in ensuring a successful delivery of the new Dún na Rí College in Kingscourt for September 2016, the much anticipated substantial extension to Breifne College in Cavan Town and the pursuit of a modern single campus solution for our highly successful Cavan Institute,” he said.
“Finally, as a board member of Bailieborough Community School, where the ETB is a co-patron along with Bishop Leo O’Reilly, I look forward to the delivery of the Special Needs Unit sanctioned for the school. The school now also has a new roof and carpark and I will now be campaigning for a modern PE Hall as well,” concluded Mr McKiernan.
The outgoing Chairman Joe McGrath said it had been a great honour and privilege for him to serve as the first chairman of the CMETB for the past year.
“I would like to place on record and acknowledge the generosity of the three political groupings for their further co-operation and partnership for allowing the position of chair and vice chair to be shared and rotated each year. This spirit of co-operation and partnership and shared vision of working together, irrespective of creed of political affiliation has afforded this board to look positively towards the future in the knowledge that we have established one of the most forward-looking and successful ETB’s in Ireland,” said Mr McGrath.
“Our Chief Executive Martin O’Brien has transformed the educational landscape of Cavan and Monaghan since he took over. He has enhanced and continues to enhance our educational facilities,” he added.