asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state whether, and, if so, when the extension of the Dublin City boundary will take place and how the position of ratepayers in County Dublin will be affected by the extension.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Extension of Dublin City Boundary.
I understand that the corporation has under consideration the preparation of a petition for a new provisional order relating to the proposed extension of the city boundary as now agreed upon between the Dublin City Council and the Dublin County Council so that the necessary local inquiry will be limited to the scope of the extension so proposed. Any extension of the boundary will involve the making of a provisional order based on the Minister's findings as a result of the local inquiry. Any such order will be subject to confirmation by the Oireachtas. It is not, therefore, possible at this stage to say whether and, if so, when the extension of the city boundary will take place, nor how the position of the ratepayers in County Dublin will be affected by any such extension.
In the event of the boundary extension taking place, can the Minister give any assurance that the interests of the ratepayers who are left in the remaining portion of County Dublin will be protected and that the rates will not sky-rocket as a result of the removal from the rateable area of a large proportion of rateable property?
I think that would be a matter for the inquiry. The Deputy may rest assured that every interest concerned will be protected.