I accept that in the case of Carrigaline, it is probably difficult to explain to the local community how a town can be divided in this fashion. However, population and the ratio between population and members come into play, as happened in the case of the town of Swords in the last redrawing of the Dáil constituencies for the 2011 election.

The boundary configuration of Carrigaline will not hamper the strategic planning and development of the town or the general area. It will be a matter for the entire municipal area and Cork County Council to ensure the infrastructure and development plans for the area are inclusive, irrespective of which electoral area people are in. The Ballincollig-Carrigaline area, the area of most concern to the Senator, includes Passage West which has a town council. There is also a six-member Bandon-Kinsale area recommended, which takes its name from the two town councils in this new proposed electoral area.

I understand the Senator's position in regard to this issue, and people have made representations to me regarding the division of Carrigaline. However, if I was to make changes in a particular area, I would be adopting a stance that indicated I did not accept in full the report of an independent group which had examined all the issues intensively. The local government Bill, which is being prepared currently and will be published later this year, will implement the decisions of the boundary review and the municipal districts will cover the entire territory of each county, reflecting European norms, uniting towns with their hinterlands, removing outdated boundaries and ending the anomalous treatment of some larger urban centres.