Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I refer to the Brosnan report on the Clare-Limerick boundary. I am heartened by media reports locally that the Minister will leave the communities of Shannon Banks and Westbury within County Clare. As the Leader appreciates, county boundaries are sacrosanct in Ireland. Families are proud of their county names, as we see in Croke Park on the first and third Sundays in September. The people of Shannon Banks and Westbury are proud Clare people and the notion of moving the Limerick border to capture their communities was a source of great distress for people throughout County Clare. The economic arguments offered did not stand up.

The whole concept of moving a city boundary to take in communities who for generations have played hurling and football for County Clare was completely inappropriate. I am delighted that in the first 100 days of Government, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has indicated that he will make a decision, which is imminent, and if media speculation and reports in County Clare are anything to go by, the decision will be the correct decision. Will the Leader ascertain when the Minister's announcement will be made and his thinking in regard to the section of the campus of the University of Limerick that is in County Clare? We need clarity. The previous Government created upset and distress in this area. I am glad we are being told through the media that a decision is imminent and I would like to know when the decision will be made.