David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, to the House. He might be surprised at the motion I have tabled today, which relates to County Cork rather than my own county of Waterford. I have received several petitions from people in the area about the recent report of the local electoral area boundary committee, which outlines the proposed new electoral areas for city and county councils. The publication of the report is welcome in that it provides certainty for local government candidates in advance of next year's elections in terms of their respective wards. It was never realistic, however, that a perfect solution would be found for all areas. Despite the greater flexibility that arises from having a range of six- to ten-seat local electoral areas, LEAs, there are several areas throughout the State in which the boundaries are poorly mapped. Some of these wards are oversized and bear no reality to the communities with which people identify.

Of particular concern are the proposals to divide certain towns. In this regard, the decision to divide Carrigaline in County Cork along the line of the Owenabue river, which runs directly through it, seems utterly senseless. Local residents have contacted me by telephone and e-mail asking me to urge the Minister to reconsider what they see as a very poorly thought-out decision. The population of the town has increased exponentially in recent years. As recently as 1971 there were fewer than 1,000 residents, but that number had increased to 6,482 by 1991. There was even greater population growth in the Celtic tiger area, from 11,282 to 14,775 in just five years. Like any town that has experienced rapid growth, Carrigaline is facing considerable challenges. It has an exceptionally high number of commuters, with the highest rate of commuting by car, at a massive 74%, of any town in Ireland. The old town has been replaced by a major commuter town as large as any of Cork's major suburbs. I am sure the Minister will agree that a town of this size requires a co-ordinated and sensible approach to planning matters which will ensure the considerable challenges it faces are met. There must be an adequate road network, for example, an adequate public transport infrastructure and efficient management of traffic flows. There must be co-ordinated efforts to attract businesses, investment in retail and so on. In that context, having some 16 councillors from across two separate LEAs making decisions for the town is not prudent. Decisions will invariably lack the necessary focus, and confusion will arise in a situation in which neighbours living only a few hundred metres apart are obliged to make representations to different councillors.

The revisions to the LEAs that impact on Carrigaline also affect the nearby town of Ballincollig, which has been moved back and forth between different general election constituencies and local electoral areas for years. Once again, that town will be separated from its hinterland in the local elections in 2014. These decisions are not helpful in the context of the sustainable planning of towns. There may be contrary views in the area but I have not heard them. I look forward to the Minister's response to the concerns that have been expressed to me by residents.