Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2018
342. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he expects the Government to have legislation ready to proceed with the implementation of the report of the Cork local government implementation oversight group, which the Government has accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2453/18]
View answer343. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the proposals put forward under section 29 of the Local Government Act 1991 by Cork County Council regarding the alteration of the boundary between Cork city and Cork County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2454/18]
View answer344. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the meaning of the phrase metropolitan town in the report of the Cork local government implementation oversight group which the Government has accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2455/18]
View answer345. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there will be special arrangements for Ballincollig within the expanded boundaries of Cork City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2456/18]
View answer346. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the recommendation of the Mackinnon report that a newly configured Cork City Council should move to an area based approach to decision making, service provision and operations will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2457/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 342 to 346, inclusive, together.
My Department has not received any formal proposals in relation to Cork under section 29 of the Local Government Act 1991 at this time. A boundary alteration can be given legal effect through the existing statutory procedures in Part V of the Local Government Act 1991, or in the absence of local authority agreement in the context of these procedures, by means of primary legislation. I have received Government approval to bring such legislation forward, if necessary, and my Department has, accordingly, commenced work on the preparation of legislation. The objective would be for the relevant legislation to be published in time to ensure enactment before the Summer recess.
All matters necessary to achieve successful implementation of the proposed boundary alteration are to be addressed in the context of the work of the Cork Local Government Implementation Oversight Group in accordance with its terms of reference.
The report of the Cork Expert Advisory Group made reference to Ballincollig as a “metropolitan town” as part of its description of the town and its location, in the context of the Group’s recommendation that Ballincollig be included within an enlarged city area.
