Limerick politicians prepare for a dog fight
POLITICIANS across county Limerick are bracing themselves for a dog-fight ahead of next year's local elections after Environment Minister John Gormley confirmed he is to implement radical boundary changes in Limerick.
A report from an independent boundary committee, published this week, recommends that one councillor should be transferred from the current Rathkeale electoral area to an expanded Kilmallock electoral area to reflect population changes.
The other significant change will see the Bruff electoral area being renamed as Adare.
Fine Gael councillor David Naughton has described the changes to the Rathkeale electoral area as "gerrymandering". "There is no such thing as an independent commission in Ireland.
"This is just like the redrawing of the Dail constituencies which was about ensuring the third seat for Fianna Fail. Now they are trying to squeeze another seat out of us in Rathkeale," he fumed. Newly co-opted Fianna Fail councillor Michael Mulcaire is predicting a dog-fight over the next 12 months.
"You have to work with what you have," he said.
In total, over 10,000 voters across county Limerick will be affected by the changes with over 5,000 being transferred out of the Castleconnell electoral area alone.
In contrast, councillors in the Newcastle electoral area were breathing a sigh of relief this Wednesday after their area escaped major change following the review.
An additional 1,300 voters are being moved into the electoral area but the number of seats will remains at five. "I am glad we still retain our five seats," said Cllr Francis Foley.
In its report the boundary committee confirmed it had considered the possibility of creating a new three-seat electoral area in West Limerick in order to comply with the new dail boundaries, which were announced earlier this year.
"The relevant portion of West Limerick has sufficient population to support a three seat electoral area but the Committee concluded that the introduction of a three seat electoral area in these circumstances would not be consistent with the terms of reference," states the report.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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