Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept that the amendments were ruled out of order and that is fine.

The issue goes back to the financial autonomy of both councils and I was endeavouring to increase the ten-year period to a 15-year period and to have the State intervene where there would be a shortfall of moneys. The structure is for both chief executives to discuss and agree annual contributions and, if they do not agree, it would then go to the oversight committee for a recommendation. I am just not sure where the role for the elected member fits in with that and whether the decision-making capacity is removed from the elected member. I seek clarification on that. It would be crucial, from a political oversight point of view, that the elected member would also have an input here into the overall decision making.

The expert advisory group on the local government arrangements in Cork, in its 2017 report, estimated that there would be a net loss in the region of €40 million per year to the county council as a result of the proposed boundary change. Obviously there will be a net loss in revenue income to the county. Rural parts of the country are generally under serious threat and pressure. The Cork Senators will be very aware that there is a danger for the county council, which covers the rural part of County Cork, that new income-generating streams from resourceful areas will go into the city from those areas that are being lost to the county. If agreement cannot be reached, obviously the committee will have an arbitration role but the Minister will have a role where there is no additional agreement at the end of the day.

This is a novel proposal and, as the Minister mentioned at the outset, is the largest boundary change in the history of the State. In my view, the State should be supporting Cork and where there is a danger that Cork County Council could lose out, the State should intervene to supplement the difference and, where Cork City Council is not in a position to provide funds, Cork County Council should not suffer as a consequence. There is a danger in the way that the legislation is constructed that that could happen.

The Minister of State may have a different view and be able to offer assurances but that would be a concern of mine. That concern has been expressed to me by a number of Cork county councillors and the issue was raised by Deputy Michael Collins in the other House. It is of particular concern in west Cork, where the current mayor of Cork County Council, Councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy, resides. Those areas are under increasing pressure, no more than places like west Kerry, west Donegal and west Galway. The fear is that the city will gain traction and resources and that the county will lose. That is where the intervention of the State was being sought in one of the amendments which was ruled out of order because, naturally, it would have a cost to the Exchequer and Senators cannot table such amendments.