Limerick boundary extension into Clare opposed

THE MAYOR of Clare last night outlined opposition to a Government move that could result in extending the Limerick city boundary into Clare.

Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) was responding to the establishment yesterday of a Limerick Local Government Committee by Minister for the Environment, John Gormley TD.

The body is to make recommendations on local government arrangements for Limerick.

Mr Mulcahy said: “If the committee recommends the extension of the Limerick city boundary into Clare, it will not happen on the watch of the current 32-member council. Make no mistake about that. Moving a boundary isn’t going to arrest urban decline in Limerick city.”

An overview of the governance of Limerick city was one of the recommendations by the Mid-West Regional Task Force, established last year in the wake of the decision by computer firm Dell to make 1,900 workers redundant. Chairman of that taskforce, Denis Brosnan, is to chair the new group.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Gormley said: “The need to put in place more effective local government arrangements for the Limerick area has been widely accepted for some time.”

Mr Gormley said he hoped the committee could conclude its work in a number of months.

The committee’s terms of reference include deciding if Limerick county and city councils should be unified or whether there should be an adjustment between the boundary of Co Clare and Limerick city or county.

Mr Gormley said: “A more appropriate system of governance needs to be put in place in Limerick if the city and region are to perform as a strong centre as envisaged in the National Spatial Strategy . . . Greater local government coherence will also assist the major regeneration efforts which are currently under way.”

Last night chief executive of Shannon Development, Dr Vincent Cunnane, welcomed the Minister’s move.

“Strong regions require a strong economic core and the greater Limerick area has the potential to have an even greater impact on economic development in the wider region,” he said.

“Effective local government arrangements have a vital role to play in regional development, and we look forward to positive outcomes from the work of the committee.”

Mr Gormley’s predecessor, Dick Roche, ruled out Limerick City Council extending into Co Clare.