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Local Authority Boundaries Review

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 September 2016

Thursday, 29 September 2016

Ceisteanna (142)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

142. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his Department's position in relation to the Drogheda boundary review carried in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27872/16]

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Freagraí scríofa

In June 2015, an independent statutory Committee was appointed to carry out a review of local government boundaries in Athlone, Carlow, Drogheda and Waterford. In each case, the committee was asked to carry out a review of the boundary between the respective local authorities and to make recommendations with respect to those boundaries and any consequential matters that they consider necessary in the interests of effective local government.

The main rationale for undertaking the boundary reviews is that, in each case, there is a significant overspill of population into another county based on the population figures taken from the 2011 census. In the case of Drogheda, the town has expanded into County Meath, with a population of 5,983 reported as located in the latter at the 2011 census (nearly 16% of the total town and environs population of 38,578).

The boundary reviews are continuing. The committees were due to submit their reports by end March 2016, but these have been delayed, in part due to the volume of submissions received as part of the public consultation processes and the chairpersons have indicated that further work is required in order to complete the reviews. The committee chairs indicated that the reports would be submitted in the Autumn.

As the committees are by law independent in the performance of their functions, it is not appropriate to comment further on the matter in advance of the committee reports.

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