Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021
194. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a review into the boundary expansion between Cork city and county will be undertaken (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34324/21]
View answerThe Cork boundary alteration is the most significant of its kind undertaken in the State and represents a major reorganisation of local government in Cork. The main aim of the boundary extension was to allow the potential for further development within a new City Council area, while also incentivising higher density development and reducing the risk of sprawl. The extended City area now includes Ballincollig, Carrigrohane, Blarney, Glanmire and Cork airport and the population of the city increased by over 85,000 people.
The Local Government Act 2019 was enacted on 31 January 2019 to provide for the transfer of part of the administrative area of Cork County Council to the administrative area of Cork City and this took place when the new Councils took office after the local elections in late May 2019.
The Act also provided for the establishment of the statutory Cork Boundary Alteration Implementation Oversight Committee to oversee arrangements for the alteration of the boundary in accordance with the statutory implementation plan.
Work on finalising the transfer of functions was completed in late 2020 and both authorities have confirmed that all the actions contained in the Statutory Implementation Plan have been discharged with new service delivery models now in place in both authorities. A small number of outstanding practical issues are still being worked through by both authorities with my Department's support. The Local Government Act 2019 provides a mechanism for resolving outstanding issues up to and including a Ministerial decision.
I am satisfied that the outstanding matters can be resolved in the coming weeks and therefore, while a review to determine the overall success of the boundary extension may be considered in the future, at this stage of implementation it would be extremely premature as both councils have yet to complete a full annual cycle within their new working arrangements. It is considered beneficial, instead, to wait until both authorities have had time to settle in and until there is sufficient data for a review.
