Dick Roche just can’t do boundaries

Four months after a survey carried out by members Sinn Féin in Limerick, revealed that the residents of three large estates immidiately north of the Limerick City/County border, would prefer to be within the city limits, there seems to have been little or no movement on the boundary issue.

Sinn Féin’s representative and city councillor, Maurice Quinlivan, has criticised Environment and Local Government Minister (We like to call him the Minister for Fudge) Dick Roche, for trying to avoid the issue. “When questioned on my behalf by Sinn Féin TD, Arthur Morgan, he simply took refuge in the long drawn out process surrounding the general Limerick boundary issue.

Given that there seems to be no particular urgency on the part of the government to come to a decision on the requested boundary extension, the people of Moyross are expected to continue to live indefinitely with this absurd situation.”

Cllr Quinlivin continued, in a statement released today, “As we have said before the Moyross situation could be resolved without prejudice to the general boundary issue as the houses are owned by Limerick City Council and there are no serious financial issues involved. Also, there has been a pretty clear indication from Limerick County Council that they would not be inclined to oppose such a move. There is no logical or compelling reason for allowing this matter to drag on forever.”

The way things are going, It is starting to look as though Limerick’s boundary extension could become an election issue. Mary Harney’s resignation as leader of the Progressive Democrats could prompt an earlier than anticipated election, meaning that this issue will be far from resolved by the time the people of Moyross go to the polls.

There is no sense in Limerick County Council having juristiction over houses that Limerick City Council own and maintain. I can’t envisage Limerick County Council making a lot of money from the houses in Pineview Gardens, Delmage Park and Craeval Park. It is ambiguities like this which cause confusion when people living in the area go to apply for public services.

The survey also revealed that most people in these areas are unsure which local authority they are covered by. If, for example, one of their children should want to apply for a Third Level ESF (European Social Fund) grant, they might assume that they have to go to City Hall, whereas they would really have to go to Dooradoyle.

Maurice Quinlivan will be running as a candidate for Sinn Féin in the upcoming General Election.

Boundary changes are the one thing that Dick Roche seems to be screwing up big time. As well as Cork and Waterford having difficulties getting extensions to their boundaries, a whole new mess has arisen with regard to electoral constituency boundaries.

Election constituancies are determined by the population in that constituency. The Irish Constitution states that an electorial constituency should have no less than 20,000 people, and no more than 30,000 people for every Dáil Éireann seat.

Following the release of preliminary figures acquired through this year’s Census, It would seem that some constituencies will be under represented, while constituencies, including Limerick West will be over-represented.