Athenry News & Views Winter 2025

Athenry News & Views

Meeting the Challenges of Our Own Success By Albert Dolan T.D.

Athenry is changing and it’s changing for all the right reasons. Over the past year, we have seen major steps forward that many towns across the country can only dream of. Dexcom’s arrival has catapulted Athenry onto the international stage as a centre for high-quality jobs and innovation. At the same time, momentum is building behind the long-awaited reopening of the Western Rail Corridor, a piece of infrastructure that has the potential to reshape how people live, work and travel across the west. These developments did not happen by accident. They are the result of years of local advocacy, national support, and a shared belief amongst our community that Athenry has more to offer. But as we move into this next chapter, we need to be honest with ourselves, the challenges ahead are not signs of failure; they are the challenges of success. Managing Rapid Growth Athenry is growing fast. New families are choosing to make the town their home, businesses are investing, and the demand for housing continues to rise. Growth brings energy and opportunity, but it also brings pressure. If we do not plan properly, the very things that make Athenry a great place to live could be put at risk. Our job now is to ensure that growth happens in a way that strengthens the community rather than stretching it. Transport Must Keep Pace With a major employer like Dexcom and a renewed focus on rail connectivity, transport is going to define Athenry’s future. We need: Reliable rail links that match the scale of the Western Rail Corridor investment. The establishment of frequent and dependable local bus services. Safer routes for walking and cycling, especially for schoolchildren and commuters. People should be able to live in Athenry and move around easily without depending on a car for every journey. Education Capacity Is Critical Our schools are already feeling the pressure. As more families move to the area, we must ensure: Adequate capacity in primary and secondary schools. Continued investment in school buildings and facilities.

Fast and predictable delivery of classrooms where they are needed most. Every child deserves a place in a local school and parents deserve confidence that those places will be available. Stronger Garda Presence for a Growing Town As Athenry grows, so too must our public safety infrastructure. The number of homes granted planning permission in recent years, combined with the population increases already underway, means that we need more Gardaí on the ground. Athenry is a safe and welcoming community, and we want it to stay that way. That requires: Additional Garda resources to match population growth. More visible community policing. Ensuring that the Garda station is equipped to meet the demands of a larger town. Good policing is not just about responding to incidents; it is about prevention, reassurance, and being present in the community. With hundreds of new homes coming on stream, now is the time to plan ahead. Health and Community Services Must Keep Up A successful town needs strong public services. Athenry’s growth must be matched by: Better access to GP and healthcare services.