Local Authority Boundaries Review: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]

Thursday, 19 October 2017

Dáil Éireann Debate
Vol. 960 No. 6
Unrevised

Local Authority Boundaries Review: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]

The following motion was moved by Deputy Michael Collins on Tuesday, 17 October 2017:

That Dáil Éireann recognises that:

— there is an attempt by agencies in the private sector and State bodies to encroach on county boundaries;

— the National Planning Framework document seems to imply that changes in county boundaries are a distinct possibility;

— the reform of Cork City’s boundary is the most significant reform of local government structures in the history of the State;

— the National Planning Framework is put in place to ensure Ireland has long-term economic, environmental and social progress in all parts of the country, however, further recognises that this plan will do the opposite for rural areas;

— the economic imperative of enlargement would represent a substantial increase in commercial rates to fund development in Cork City Council at the expense of Cork County Council’s rural areas;

— an extension would also raise the population of Cork City which would improve its ranking, meanwhile decrease the population in the Cork County Council area;

— there are potential challenges in implementing the National Planning Framework, including geography, scale, historic administrative boundaries, administrative structures and European Union reporting requirements; and changes to administrative boundaries may not always consider the issues that a planning framework seeks to address;

— in relation to Cork City Council, affluent areas are being brought in under the new boundary, for example, the very small village of Killumney is included in the proposal, the most obvious reason being that Dell EMC is located in this area and would provide a lot of revenue through the collection of its commercial rates;

— groups and individuals are objecting to these new boundary proposals;

— a change to boundaries would be detrimental for Cork County Council, with an estimated loss of €80 million, which comprises of losses in rates and property taxes;

— residents and farmers living in the countryside would now be regarded as city dwellers;

— businesses in the Cork County Council areas would have to become Cork City Council ratepayers;

— the Cork Local Government Implementation Oversight Group has now commenced its work; the Group has, however, indicated that it is not in a position to accept any alternative proposal that would be regarded as running contrary to the proposed broad boundary adjustment as set out in the ‘Mackinnon Report’;

— county councils are already stretched, if they are to lose more revenue they will not be able to function;

— the election of five councillors from Cork City Council and five councillors from

Cork County Council, as well as independent persons to a board serving for five years to champion the project is too long a sitting period and also means that other elected 2409 representatives will be ineffective if the board members are the decision makers;

— the detail in the compensation package on how Cork City Council plans to pay back Cork County Council is vague with no definite plan on the loan repayment;

— such plans have caused a division between Cork City Council and Cork County Council;

— no proper consultation has taken place between Cork City Council and Cork County Council, and the public; and

— the amalgamation of areas results in a decrease in services and expenditure, and also creates excessive workload on officials and elected members; and

calls on the Government to:

— ensure that these boundaries, which are the essence of who we are as a people, are protected;

— seek definite answers to what is proposed;

— examine if it is necessary to reform governance structures so that necessary services can be delivered;

— assign an independent person from abroad to facilitate and oversee negotiations between both parties;

— examine the vague compensation package offered to Cork County Council;

— explain how a ten year compensation period could be considered a sufficient timeframe;

— provide immediate clarification on the plans to protect rural areas, as there is already limited funding and future funding would be non-existent;

— explain how the National Planning Framework could be beneficial for the people living in rural Ireland;

— explain how the National Planning Framework will regenerate rural Ireland;

— assess the impact such an implementation would have on local communities;

— explain if the authors have practical knowledge of how local government services are best delivered and if such a plan would work in reality; and

— explain if an assessment has been made on the implications on service delivery or financial and resource implications.

  Debate resumed on amendment No. 3:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"recognises the need to put in place effective and sustainable local government arrangements in Cork and notes the action being pursued to achieve this, and further recognises the need for a National Planning Framework to set an overall long-term strategic planning framework for growth and change in Ireland, including our rural areas, building on the Action Plan for Rural Development and based on a core objective to reverse decline and create new opportunities for rural and small town growth, in terms of people, jobs and infrastructure."

(Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy John Paul Phelan)

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:   I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding the local authority boundaries review. On Tuesday, 17 October 2017, on the question that amendment No. 3 to the motion be agreed to, a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 70(2), that division must be taken now.

Amendment put:

The Dáil divided: Tá, 44; Níl, 49; Staon, 35.

Tá	Níl		Staon
Bailey, Maria.	Adams, Gerry.		Aylward, Bobby.
Barrett, Seán.	Barry, Mick.		Breathnach, Declan.
Breen, Pat.	Boyd Barrett, Richard.		Browne, James.
Brophy, Colm.	Brady, John.		Butler, Mary.
Bruton, Richard.	Broughan, Thomas P.		Byrne, Thomas.
Byrne, Catherine.	Buckley, Pat.		Cahill, Jackie.
Canney, Seán.	Collins, Joan.		Calleary, Dara.
Carey, Joe.	Collins, Michael.		Casey, Pat.
Corcoran Kennedy, Marcella.	Connolly, Catherine.		Cassells, Shane.
Creed, Michael.	Coppinger, Ruth.		Chambers, Jack.
Daly, Jim.	Crowe, Seán.		Chambers, Lisa.
Doherty, Regina.	Cullinane, David.		Cowen, Barry.
Donohoe, Paschal.	Daly, Clare.		Curran, John.
Doyle, Andrew.	Doherty, Pearse.		Dooley, Timmy.
Durkan, Bernard J.	Ellis, Dessie.		Fleming, Sean.
English, Damien.	Ferris, Martin.		Harty, Michael.
Farrell, Alan.	Fitzmaurice, Michael.		Haughey, Seán.
Fitzpatrick, Peter.	Funchion, Kathleen.		Kelleher, Billy.
Flanagan, Charles.	Grealish, Noel.		Lahart, John.
Griffin, Brendan.	Healy-Rae, Danny.		MacSharry, Marc.
Halligan, John.	Healy, Seamus.		McConalogue, Charlie.
Harris, Simon.	Howlin, Brendan.		McGrath, Michael.
Heydon, Martin.	Kenny, Gino.		McGuinness, John.
Humphreys, Heather.	Kenny, Martin.		Moynihan, Michael.
Kehoe, Paul.	Lowry, Michael.		Murphy O'Mahony, Margaret.
Madigan, Josepha.	Martin, Catherine.		O'Brien, Darragh.
McGrath, Finian.	McDonald, Mary Lou.		O'Callaghan, Jim.
McHugh, Joe.	McGrath, Mattie.		O'Dea, Willie.
McLoughlin, Tony.	Munster, Imelda.		O'Loughlin, Fiona.
Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.	Murphy, Catherine.		O'Rourke, Frank.
Moran, Kevin Boxer.	Murphy, Paul.		Rabbitte, Anne.
Murphy, Eoghan.	Nolan, Carol.		Scanlon, Eamon.
Naughten, Denis.	Ó Broin, Eoin.		Smith, Brendan.
Naughton, Hildegarde.	Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.		Smyth, Niamh.
Neville, Tom.	Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.		Troy, Robert.
Noonan, Michael.	Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
O'Connell, Kate.	O'Brien, Jonathan.
O'Donovan, Patrick.	O'Reilly, Louise.
O'Dowd, Fergus.	O'Sullivan, Jan.
Phelan, John Paul.	O'Sullivan, Maureen.
Rock, Noel.	Penrose, Willie.
Ross, Shane.	Quinlivan, Maurice.
Stanton, David.	Ryan, Brendan.
Zappone, Katherine.	Ryan, Eamon.
	Shortall, Róisín.
	Smith, Bríd.
	Stanley, Brian.
	Tóibín, Peadar.
	Wallace, Mick.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Joe McHugh and Tony McLoughlin; Níl, Deputies Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins.

Amendment declared lost.