Vol. 513 No. 1
504 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason for the change in name of the Tinnahinch electoral district in County Laois to the Mountmellick district; the consultations, if any, which took place with local concerns prior to this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1103/00]
In February 1998, I established the electoral area boundary committee to review and make recommendations on the divisions into local electoral areas of all counties and county boroughs outside of the Dublin area. In accordance with statutory requirements, the committee requested each local authority coming within its terms of reference to submit proposals for the revision of their local electoral areas. The committee also wrote to each Member of the Oireachtas and to each registered political party inviting written submissions. In addition, submissions from the public were sought by way of notices in the national and provincial newspapers.
In relation to County Laois, the committee recommended that an area in the south western end of the then Tinnahinch local electoral area should be included in the Borris-in-Ossory local electoral area. Mountmellick was also suggested as a more appropriate name for the revised area, formerly Tinnahinch, in order to make the name more readily recognisable and to more accurately reflect its geographic focus. The committee's recommendations for all counties and county boroughs were accepted in full and have been implemented.
