Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise an issue that is on the front of the Irish Examinertoday. The Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, has announced a review of the merger plan for Cork city and county councils. This was a very important report issued by the former Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, on the local authorities in Cork. The merger report, which proposed one local authority for Cork, was agreed three to two. Now it is proposed to review that report. I ask that the Minister comes to the House to explain what he is proposing to do with the report. It is a very divisive report. Cork is a huge area with a population of more than 500,000 and a geographical area the size of one eighth of this country. The report proposing one authority for Cork is a good idea. There are different views in Cork and in the Chamber on the issue. The review is something we have to discuss. The Minister can bring clarity when he comes to the House, which I would like to get. We need to move forward and arrive at a conclusion. This is hanging over Cork at the moment, that is, whether there will be one authority or not. We need a decision as soon as possible. Politically, the public representatives are not sure where they will be standing in the local elections that will be held in two and a half or three years' time. There are an awful lot of issues at stake here. When the Minister comes to the House, he will bring clarity to it, which I welcome. It is important for Cork and the State to get clarity on that issue.