Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 July 2017

Wednesday, 5 July 2017

Ceisteanna (256)

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

256. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the timeframe under which he plans to define the extended city boundary of Cork; the timeframe to set the terms of reference for a local electoral area boundary committee to define the local electoral areas for Cork City Council and Cork County Council for the 2019 local elections; and the timeframe for the local electoral areas for Cork city council and Cork county council for the 2019 local elections to be known. [31592/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

The Programme for a Partnership Government sets out a number of requirements in relation to local government reform, involving a report to Government and the Oireachtas by mid-2017 on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability, including a commitment to consider reducing the size of local electoral areas.

The report will be presented to Government and the Oireachtas in early autumn and, depending on the outcome of consideration of the  report, any review of local electoral area boundaries would be undertaken in good time before the 2019 local elections.

The changes recommended by the Cork Expert Advisory Group report represent the most significant population transfer associated with a local government boundary extension in Ireland.  To ensure that the challenges of implementation are addressed effectively, an Implementation Oversight Group is to be established to oversee the process. Its initial main task will be to submit a detailed Implementation Plan early in the Autumn which will help to clarify timescales for various aspects of the process.