Fine Gael's Colm Murray has been appointed to the role of Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council.
The Kenagh man took over the role from outgoing chair Turlough McGovern the Council's Annual General Meeting yesterday.
Councillor Murray joined the council in 2013 following his co-option to Paddy Belton's seat, and was elected to the seat following the 2014 elections.
The new Cathaoirleach was proposed by Councillor Paul Ross, with no opposition raised by those in the chamber.
Speaking following his appointment, Councillor Murray paid tribute to his predecessor and described some of his priorities for the year:
'We feel in Longford and its been something that's been discussed a number of times and there needs to be a focus on affordable housing and making housing a viable project.
There are a lot of complex areas with regard to building houses and challenges with regard to the regulatory side of things that is making it a very hard thing to do.
Also we have the challenges of the market, at the moment its very expensive to build a home compared to the market value of it.
There's are some of the things that I will be highlighting with the department at my first meeting with them.'
