Moran to take over as OPW minister on June 2

Westmeath’s Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD is to take over as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works early next month, it has been revealed.

It is understood that the Athlone man, elected to the Dáil for the first time last year as an Independence Alliance TD and subsequently involved in the building of a minority coalition, will succeed outgoing minister Seán Canney in the role after Friday June 2.

As part of government formation negotiations, the Independent Alliance was promised four ministries, three of which went to Deputies Shane Ross, Finian McGrath and John Halligan. Moran and Canney agreed to share the term of office for the fourth ministry and, after flipping a coin, Canney went first.

The changeover was originally scheduled to take place last weekend, on the anniversary of the Government’s formation. However, with Minister Canney finishing work on a number of outstanding projects, the process has been delayed for a month.

Moran is now likely to serve in this junior ministry for the rest of the Government’s term of office, which is widely expected to last until next summer before an election is called.

Part of Deputy Moran’s brief as minister will be flood relief, a subject close to the former county councillor’s heart; when the River Shannon burst its banks in 2015, Moran was a prominent volunteer in organising temporary flood defences in Athlone.