Re: Re: cork city boundary extension

Perhaps we were all getting a bit too excited in hoping that common sense would prevail…this from today’s Irish Examiner

Boundary extension a ‘non-runner’

By Niall Murray
PLANS by Cork city manager Joe Gavin to extend the city boundary significantly into Cork County Council territory will never gain Government approval, a local Fianna Fáil TD warned last night.

Noel O’Flynn, a former member of Cork City Council, said the plans were far too big and should be rejected by city councillors.

The report outlining the proposed expansion of the city’s administrative area beyond Douglas and Cork Airport to the south, east as far as Little Island, north to Killeens and Rathcooney and west to Waterfall and Ballinora, will be put before Cork City Council members for approval tonight.

However, Mr O’Flynn said, any such move will never get the green light from central government, which would have to rubber-stamp any boundary extension.

“It’s a completely ill-conceived idea, the city manager must be losing the run of himself. I believe the proposal will get no support in its current form from the Government,” he said.

The proposed extension is likely to face strong opposition from Cork County Council members, who are expected to seek a debate on the proposals at their regular meeting this morning, although it is not scheduled for discussion.

The initial reaction from some county councillors when details of the City Hall plans emerged at the weekend was one of outrage, with warnings that relations between neighbouring authorities could be soured if the proposals are pursued by Mr Gavin.

However, he insists that the city must be allowed to grow physically to act as a counterweight to the development of greater Dublin.

The plans he will present to councillors tonight would increase the city’s population from less than 120,000 to 180,000.