Dáil Éireann - Volume 494 - 30 September, 1998

Written Answers - Local Electoral Areas.

Mr. McGuinness Mr. McGuinness

533. Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to extend the administrative role of Kilkenny Corporation to take in the area which represents the electoral area of the members of Kilkenny Corporation; if his attention has been drawn to this anomaly; if his Department will deal with the issue prior to the next local government elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16920/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey) Noel Dempsey

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey): Following agreement locally the electoral area of specified towns was extended in 1994 under the Local Government Act, 1994 to encompass adjoining built up areas solely for the purposes of local elections.

In accordance with the provisions of Part V of the Local Government Act, 1991, which was brought into operation in 1996, it is open at any time to an individual local authority to adopt a proposal to alter its boundary for administrative purposes. Such a proposal must specify the boundary proposed which could be in accordance with the 1994 electoral revisions or otherwise. I have not received an application in this respect in relation to the Borough of Kilkenny.

543

With regard to town boundary alterations generally the report of the Reorganisation Commission “Towards cohesive local government — town and county” pointed to the implications cumulatively of a major programme of such alterations given the complex financial and other interrelationships between county and town authorities; and the need, inter alia, to avoid increased [543] costs for the public either locally or nationally arising from such organisational change.

At present a Bill is being prepared in my Department which will provide a modern comprehensive legislative framework for the local government system and address, inter alia, some of the interrelationships and other issues involved and provide a new context within which the question of local authority boundary alterations can be considered.

Dáil Éireann 494 Written Answers Local Electoral Areas.

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