Cork local authority merger

The Majority Report of the Cork Local Government Committee Review was compiled by Alf Smiddy, chairman of the group, in conjunction with senior counsel John Lucey and former Kerry county manager Tom Curran.

It recommends a single authority, Cork City and County Council, be established as the statutory local authority for Cork. This would cover the county as a whole.

The three men said an appropriate Cork metropolitan area should be designated which would take in the city and suburbs. It would also incorporate a wider surrounding area that would be consistent with the sustainable physical, economic and sociable development of the city in the medium to long term

The body representing the new Cork metropolitan area should constitute one of three new divisions which would be central to the new Cork City and County Council.

The report says municipal districts, with a metropolitan district for Cork City, should be established in conjunction with a redefinition of the electoral area.

Special provisions should be enacted to preserve the historic civic status of Cork city, including retaining the position of lord mayor, who would chair the metropolitan division. The associated status and customs that comes with the role should also be retained.