Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 1461: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received a request to extend the Cork City boundary. [1139/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The procedures currently governing boundary alterations are set out in Part V of the Local Government Act 1991 and in the Local Government (Boundary Alteration) Regulations 1996. Under these provisions, it is open to a local authority to initiate a proposal for the alteration of its boundaries. This involves preparation of a formal boundary alteration proposal by the authority concerned including financial, organisational and other implications; invitation of public submissions and consultation with the other local authorities affected by the proposal, prior to submitting a formal application to the Minister.

Cork City Council passed a motion in early 2005 requesting me to conduct a review of the city-council boundary with a view to extending the city boundary. In responding to Cork City Council in this regard, I indicated that it is open to the council to initiate such a formal boundary extension proposal locally, which would, in accordance with the comprehensive legislative process, ultimately be referred to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Any draft ministerial order to alter the boundary of any county or city would require a positive resolution by each House of the Oireachtas before coming into force.