Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Carey for raising this matter. As the House is aware, the issue of a boundary extension for Limerick city forms one element only of what is a complex and challenging set of circumstances in the city and county and the wider mid-west region. Limerick city, in particular, has faced obvious socioeconomic challenges. The population at the heart of the urban area has been in decline, the city itself has experienced pronounced deterioration, unemployment levels have been consistently above the national average and severe levels of deprivation have existed in certain areas. In addition, political and administrative leadership in the region has lacked cohesiveness and has been unable to contribute as effectively as it should to addressing these difficulties.

Against this backdrop, the report of the Limerick local government committee on the most appropriate local government arrangements for the city and county of Limerick - the Brosnan report - was published in September 2010. The report concluded that the needs of the people of Limerick are not being well served by the existence of two separate councils and that the only fully satisfactory resolution of the issues involved is through the creation of an integrated local authority under the leadership of a single elected council and single management structure.

The Brosnan report makes a strong case for new governance arrangements. A unified Limerick local authority would introduce a single authority of scale with the strength, assets and capacity to meet Limerick's challenges. It would bring about a more cohesive and better integrated local government system for Limerick city and county. It would create potential for better value for money, eliminate duplication and free up financial and human resources for critical projects such as the revitalisation of Limerick's city centre, regeneration and the support of enterprise.

At a strategic level, there is a strong resonance between the Brosnan report and the report of the local government efficiency review group, as well as the Government's response to the national economic circumstances. The local government efficiency review group recommended the delivery of corporate services on a joint basis across contiguous local authority areas and joint management structures in order to generate scale efficiencies in local government structures. The review group recommended ten such joint administrative areas and stated that, at a minimum, Limerick city and county should be jointly administered.

On boundary alterations, the Brosnan report also recommended the incorporation of urban elements of County Clare within the city area of the new merged city and county. The report proposed the inclusion of the housing estates of Shannon Banks and Westbury, and adjacent developments, which are a de facto part of the urban fabric of Limerick city, in addition to that part of the University of Limerick campus which is north of the Shannon. I have an open mind on the Clare aspect of the Brosnan recommendations. I can certainly see logic to it in terms of the overall shape of the city, ensuring that possible future development proposals are appropriately addressed. However, I am also aware of the counter arguments, some of which have been made by the Deputy.

I recognise the proposal does not enjoy the same degree of support as other aspects of the report, and it is probably not as essential to the core issues dealt with in the report as the Limerick city and county aspect. The detachment of a portion of the functional area of one county authority and its incorporation into another would involve legal and administrative complexity. In any event, there needs to be an effective arrangement to ensure the efficient discharge of local government functions in the areas in question so as to deal with any issues that might arise.

While there may be differing views as to the best approach, there is virtually universal agreement that circumstances should not be left as they are. I will certainly reflect on the Deputy's comments. I appreciate the consultation I have had with the representatives from Limerick and Clare and I will be bringing proposals to Government in the very near future to bring this matter to a conclusion one way or the other.

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