Dáil debates

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

Adjournment Debate

Local Authority Boundaries

8:00 pm

Photo of Joe CareyJoe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this very important matter. I acknowledge that the Minister for the Environment Community and Local Government has seen fit to come in to answer the debate.

Tonight I reiterate my opposition to a boundary extension into County Clare. There is no justifiable reason for Limerick City to extend into County Clare. There is no justifiable reason for County Clare to sacrifice a portion of our lands to resolve a problem which clearly does not exist. The simple fact is this proposal is unwarranted and would create more problems than it would solve. We in the Banner County are a very proud people. Indeed, I am a proud Clare man, born and bred. County Clare is steeped in history, heritage and tradition. If a boundary extension into County Clare were to be granted, it would rob people of their identity, of their link to where they are from, their very history and heritage.

The primary proposal put forward in the Limerick local government review is that there should be one local governance structure to manage Limerick city and Limerick county. The people of Clare have absolutely no problem with this proposal, but the people of Clare have a major issue with the plan to expand the Limerick city boundary into County Clare. We are told by the Limerick local government review group that its motivation to seek a boundary extension into County Clare is in order to create a critical mass of population which will in turn improve the prospects of attracting foreign direct investment.

This idea is fine in theory but is not grounded in reality. Changing a line on a map does not create a population. The people already exist and the critical mass already exists, but we simply live in different counties. Placing 3,000 Clare people into Limerick will not sort out our financial woes. However, it will create bad feeling, division, resentment and bitterness. It is very clear the people of Clare are very much opposed to a boundary extension. I applaud the efforts of the Clare against the Boundary Extension Committee under the chairmanship of Jim Gully. This group was formed in 1996 and took a survey at the time which resulted in 90% of residents living in Westbury, Shannon Banks, Meelick and Parteen expressing a deep desire to remain in County Clare under the jurisdiction of Clare County Council. In recent times Clare against the Boundary Extension Committee has organised very successful public demonstrations which have received massive support, including the support of every political party in the county.

If we are to pull ourselves out of the economic disaster zone in which our country finds itself, we need to work together. In the same way, there is no reason a better level of co-operation between the local authorities in County Clare, Limerick city and Limerick county cannot take place. This approach would result in a better quality of public service being delivered. There is no reason public services cannot be shared to a much greater extent. A joint effort between local authorities in Counties Clare and Limerick on the delivery of public services is a far better option than changing county boundaries to solve a problem that does not exist.

I acknowledge the forthright approach to this issue by the new Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, which is in deep contrast to the efforts of the former Minister, Mr. Gormley. In the short time the Minister, Deputy Hogan, has held his brief he has facilitated meetings with representatives from Limerick city, Limerick county and County Clare. As he moves towards a decision on the Limerick local government review group report I know the Minister will take on board the genuine and deeply held opposition in County Clare to any boundary change. I am appealing to the Minister to drop any of the proposals to grant a boundary extension from Limerick city into County Clare. The solution must be an insistence on a far greater level of co-operation between the local authorities of Counties Clare and Limerick which would not interfere in any way with county boundaries. I would be grateful if the Minister could tell the House when he expects to make a formal decision on the report.

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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They would take their hurlers though.

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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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.