Clare suburbs are 'an integral part of Limerick city' says Brosnan as local government report is published
THE chairman of the boundary committee Denis Brosnan says the Clare suburbs of Shannon Banks and Westbury are "integral parts" of Limerick city.
Mr Brosnan was speaking to the Limerick Leader ahead of the launch of the final report of the Local Government Committee, which will controversially recommend the inclusion of the two Clare suburbs as part of an extended city boundary, making Limerick the third biggest city in the country.
"To put this in perspective, this is 3,000 people that are being served already by Limerick City in the areas of water and fire (services] etc. Its being serviced by Limerick city, it's an integral part of Limerick city.
"The fact that it's just on the other side of the Shannon (and over the border], is just a minor detail. I don't think it holds water for anyone," he said.
The former Kerry Group chief executive also said it "doesn't make any sense" to have the University of Limerick split between two different counties - as is the case at the moment, with the Clare divide marked by the Living Bridge.
The report recommends that one member of Clare County Council should be nominated to sit on the enlarged single authority, ahead of local elections in 2014. There are currrently two councillors, Cathal Crowe and Paschal Fitzgerald, with bases in the area.
This Thursday, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government published the report of the local government committee (see page 2 for full details].
As exclusively revealed by the Leader in July, the report will also call for an amalgamation of Limerick City and County Councils, with a reduction in the number of councillors.
Mr Brosnan said that although he hopes the government will act quickly, the group had not been given any assurances on the timing of a response from the cabinet.
"We have had no assurances (on when action will be taken]. We are five very independent people, and our job was to look at how well Limerick is governed. This came from the task force report, which said that until the issue of the city's governance is addressed, the region would not pick up. Obviously, we hope the government will act quickly though," he said, adding: "A strong, vibrant Limerick city is the only viable option."
The report, which runs to more than 50 pages, also contains recommendations that the work of the regeneration agency - which is focused on rebuilding four city estates - be brought under the single local authority.
"The term of office of the current regeneration agency runs out in two years' time, so one possibility is the regeneration agency gets an extended term. The second option is that the new authority can embrace regeneration as part of its focus.
"Obviously, we prefer the latter route - that regeneration of the city and of these estates, both of which are necessary, will be taken over by the new authority," he said.
"We need a plan, but we cannot plan until the first Government decision is made. You cannot plan with a city which has three local authorities looking after the regeneration of four city estates," Mr Brosnan said.
"There will be one new authority which will incorporate the activities of Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council and hopefully the regeneration agencies. It will also bring in 3,000 people from Clare, so this means it cuts across four different authorities."
Mr Brosnan added that the Mid-West jobs task force is "back on the agenda", with meetings of the group - which includes regeneration architect John Fitzgerald and Shannon Development chief executive Dr Vincent Cunnane - taking place this week. The group's final report, which will contain an outline of how to solve the unemployment crisis in the region, will be published in the final quarter of 2010.
"The governance of Limerick City is what we have devoted the first six or seven months in the year to. The task force has restarted its work in the week gone by, which is a good thing," Mr Brosnan concluded.
To view the full report, click here
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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