Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegation for coming before the committee because I believe communication and information around this document is essential even at this early stage. Many of the issues I wanted to cover have already been covered so I will ask some specific questions. The metropolitan areas are mentioned within the document and identified as being established within municipal districts. What is the actual definition of the metropolitan area in this context? Is any population threshold set for such metropolitan designation? Are there any mechanisms in the new reform proposals that will allow metropolitan areas to adopt development plans for areas in adjacent local authorities, for example, through service level agreements? Two examples are Limerick city, which goes into County Clare, and Waterford city, which has Ferrybank in County Kilkenny directly adjacent but is in that same urban area. Many would agree that there should be some mechanism to allow the metropolitan or city area to adopt development plans for those urban areas through agreement.

Mr. Dowling spoke about the amalgamation of Waterford city and county councils. He said the identity and civic status of the city, including the office of mayor, will be maintained. Could he define how will they be maintained? There is a view that amalgamation will diminish the status of Waterford city as the gateway city of the south east. What are Mr. Dowling's views on that? Can he tell us how he would reassure those who say this that it is not the case? Again, in respect of the amalgamation in Waterford, which is my constituency, savings of approximately €5 million to €9 million have been mentioned. Can Mr. Dowling give details of how those figures were derived or where they were derived from?