Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss what I believe to be a critical issue, not just for County Clare, but in its principle to many counties bordering expanding towns and cities. It would be welcome if the Government set about developing guidelines to ensure that some towns or counties do not get the wrong impression regarding what is acceptable.

This issue relates to the application to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government by Limerick City Council with a view to expanding into the territory of County Clare. The Minister of State is aware that one's county is an integral part of one's identity and sense of community. Any attempt to change a county boundary, taking people from one county to another, can have a profound impact on the lives and sense of identity and belonging to a particular area. I hope the Minister of State will give due consideration to this.

The matter I am raising is a real concern in County Clare, particularly in south-east Clare, as it is the area under consideration, threat or attack, depending on one's view. I do not wish to overly dramatise this matter, but there is a threat to the identity of the people in this area. The area I come from and live in is not directly included in this application, but I feel for the people in the area affected. If it were to affect me, I would feel very aggrieved. I am making this strong demand of the Minister of State and his officials on behalf of the people affected by this matter.

I strongly object to Limerick City Council's intention to even consider County Clare as a suitable location in which to expand. The matter should get due consideration from the Minister of State given the importance of retaining the integrity of county boundaries for administrative reasons. From the perspective of the Electoral Commission, there is a clear policy in the protocols associated with boundary committees when they deal with constituencies, and an effort is made to protect existing boundaries. Surely Limerick city should look to its own county first to satisfy its expansion needs. I am not suggesting that the city should not look to expand to cater for the growth in its structure. I will not suggest how it goes about this process, but I contend it should look to its own county first.

There is a territorial issue among the people of County Clare. While south-east Clare is the area under threat, many people throughout the county believe, from a territorial perspective, that Limerick city should take its eyes off the banner county and leave it as it is.

County Clare is unique in terms of its existing boundary, because only a small section of the county is connected by land, along the border with County Galway. The county is very much an island, bound on the east by the River Shannon, on its southern shore by the Shannon Estuary and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean up to Galway Bay. Limerick city proposes to bridge the river to gain territory in County Clare. It is not acceptable for the reasons I have outlined and I hope the Department, while giving consideration to the proposal from Limerick city, will rule in favour of the desire of the vast majority of people in the affected area and throughout County Clare.