Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It has been outlined how residents in Blarney and Ballincollig were concerned at how the boundary was pushed on them. They very much felt as though they had had no say in the matter and there was no plebiscite on the matter, and it is unclear what became of the petition that was collected on the matter. However, locals were realistic and recognised that the Cabinet had made a decision over a year ago and that the legislation and the boundary revision would follow.

An important issue arising from this is the orderly handover of some 400 services operated by the county council in the transition zone, and that it be orderly and clean so that residents are not at a loss and there is no failure of services during the transition period. People are worried that city councillors would be elected in the summer while the services would be run by the county council or other service operators. Were something to go wrong in that case, it is not clear who to deal with.

The implementation group wants to take on all 400 services in the first go, which is very ambitious and might not be wholly realistic. That is one aim.

See this speech in context