Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 591: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when and the way he will implement the results of a plebiscite held in Dingle, replacing the name An Daingean with Dingle — Daingean uí Chuis. [23924/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Placenames (Ceantair Ghaeltachta) Order 2004, of December 2004, issued under the Official Languages Act 2003 and covering in excess of 2,300 placenames, had the effect of changing the placename of Dingle to An Daingean. On 20th October 2006 Kerry County Council conducted a plebiscite under the Local Government Act 1946 to ascertain whether the majority of the qualified electors in the non-municipal town of An Daingean would consent to an application being made to the Government for an order changing the name of An Daingean to Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis. Of 1,222 electors, 1,005 gave their consent to Kerry County Council's proposal. Kerry County Council then resolved to apply to the Government to make an order under Section 77 of the Local Government Act 1946 to change the name to Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis.

Kerry County Council conducted the plebiscite having previously been informed of the conclusion of the Attorney General, issued on 7 April 2006, that the local government code could not be used to change the name of a place subject to a placenames order, such as An Daingean. In view of this advice, it is not legally possible to give effect to the plebiscite while An Daingean is the official placename in accordance with the Placenames Order.

I am aware of the strength of local feeling on this issue. Kerry County Council's plebiscite has articulated the views of the townspeople. However people living in the wider area, who regard An Daingean as the capital of the Chorca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht, have expressed support for continuation of the official placename of An Daingean. Given the legal complexities of the issues involved in any name change, and the strong opinions which have been expressed locally, I have asked my officials to consider the matter further, in conjunction with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, before taking any further action on the matter.