Austin Deasy
Question:31 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department has ever received an application from Waterford Corporation to extend its boundary to include areas of South Kilkenny. [12763/97]
Written Answers. - Boundary Alterations.
The Local Government Provisional Orders Confirmation Act, 1955, inter alia, extended the Waterford city boundary to take in part of County Kilkenny.
Waterford Corporation made an application in 1979, pursuant to the Waterford City Management Act, 1939, for an extension of the city to take in part of County Kilkenny. The matter did not proceed due to lack of agreement between the local authorities concerned.
The procedure to be followed for making boundary alterations has changed since then. The legal framework for all local authority boundary alterations is now contained in Part V of the Local Government Act, 1991, and associated regulations. Under these provisions, it is open to any local authority to make a proposal for a boundary extension. The legislation enables all the issues in relation to a boundary alteration to be thoroughly considered in the first instance by the local authorities involved and it includes provision for public advertisement and consulation. When this local process is complete, an application for a boundary alteration can then be made to the Minister for the Environment and there is also provision for the establishment of an independent committee to report and make recommendations.
There is no record in my Department of an application from Waterford Corporation under the 1991 Act.