Vol. 474 No. 1
110 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for the Environment if he will clarify a statement attributed to him concerning boundary extensions for New Ross Urban Council which appeared in a newspaper on Wednesday, 25 December 1996, (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2455/97]
The legal framework for local authority boundary alterations, as set out in Part V of the Local Government Act, 1991 and the associated regulations, enables all the issues in relation to a boundary alteration to be thoroughly considered by the local authorities involved in the first instance. It includes provision for public advertisement and consultation with the other local authorities concerned. Under the Act, an application for a boundary alteration cannot be made to the Minister for the Environment until this local process is completed. The Act also includes provision which would allow for the establishment of an independent committee to report and make recommendations following receipt of such an application.
I understand that New Ross Urban District Council is at present considering the question of making a proposal for a boundary extension but has not commenced formal boundary extension procedures. Accordingly, I have no role in the matter at this stage.
The report of the Lacey Commission, mentioned in the press report referred to, was published last June and the new statutory procedures governing local authority boundary alterations were notified to local authorities in July and in August 1996.
