CORK CITY EXPANDS: Green Party welcomes report of the Expert Advisory Group on Local Arrangements in Cork

9 June 2017
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie

The group, which was set up by Minister Simon Coveney, has recommended to overturn a 2015 report that called for the merger of Cork city and county councils. The new report instead recommends extending the city boundary to take in areas such as Ballincollig, Blarney, Glanmire and Carrigtwohill. This would increase the city population to 225,000.

Welcoming the report, the Green Party spokesperson on political reform and the party’s representative in Cork North Central, Oliver Moran, said:

“There’s a lot in here that’s really positive. Obviously the move away from the wrongheaded notion of a ‘super council’ is for the good. But the idea of having an area-based approach to decision-making in the city is good news too for local communities. It will mean the new larger city will keep its local feel and the essential character of local places that makes Cork so great.”

Mr Moran was a vocal opponent of the 2015 report and the drive to merge the city and county council. He continued:

“This report recognises the importance of developing cities as economic and cultural hubs. That’s to the benefit of both the city and the county region. Cities are dynamos. They drive economic and culture life and the county region will benefit from a vibrant city too.”

“But we’re disappointed the reports recommends against a directly-elected mayor. We think that has the potential to really bring energy to our regional cities and we’ll continue to fight for it. I think too that Simon Coveney was right in what he said this morning about extending the existing Lord Mayor’s term to five years. That’s what the report recommended but a two year stint as Lord Mayor, elected by Councillors, is long enough to make a mark – and better than one year as it is now – but any longer and an indirectly-elected mayor would start to take from the office which is so important to the people of Cork.”