I established two independent Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees on 13 December 2017 to review and make recommendations on all local electoral areas other than those in Cork and Galway. In broad terms, these reviews are being undertaken in advance of the next local elections which are scheduled for late May/early June 2019 and having regard to the results of Census 2016 as well as the commitment to consider reducing the size of territorially large local electoral areas as set out in A Programme for Partnership Government (May 2016). The Committees are tasked with reporting to me within six months, that is by 13 June 2018.
On 23 March 2018, I made a further announcement appointing the existing two Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees to review and make recommendations on local electoral areas in Cork city and Cork county. These reviews will be conducted on the basis of the revised boundary between the city and county, as proposed by the Cork Implementation Oversight Group and agreed by Government, and which will be given legal effect by forthcoming legislation. The review of Cork county will be undertaken by Committee No. 1 while Committee No. 2 will report on Cork city.
My Department understands that a public consultation, in respect of the reviews in Cork city and county, was announced by the two committees on 11 April 2018 inviting submissions from all relevant stakeholders, interested parties and members of the public. Submissions may be sent by e-mail to boundarycommittee@housing.gov.ie or, alternatively, by post to:
Secretary
Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees
Room 1.67
Custom House
Dublin 1
D01 W6X0
The closing date for receipt of submissions is 5:00 p.m. on 9 May 2018.