9 June 2017
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
Cork South Central TD Micheál Martin
Cork South Central TD, Micheál Martin has welcomed the “ditching” of the proposed merger of Cork City and County Councils by the Government.
“For nearly two years, I have been warning that this proposal would be bad for Cork, and bad for the entire South West region.
“Common sense has finally prevailed, and this announcement will, I believe, calm the concerns of local people who felt that the merger would severely jeopardise investment in the city and county.
Answer = No
“There are other more pressing concerns in the city and county such as providing adequate affordable housing, investing in much needed infrastructure developments, and supporting local businesses deal with the effects of Brexit.
“The revised recommendations outlined today which will see an expansion of the city boundaries through the bringing in of suburbs such as Ballincollig, Blarney, Carrigtwohill and Little Island into the city authorities can provide an economic boom for the city, and for the wider county.
“Cork City is the natural and obvious economic heart of the south of Ireland. The City and County of Cork must be economically fit for purpose in order to offer itself as a counterweight to Dublin.
“What now must happen now is the speedy implementation of these recommendations so that the necessary changes to boundaries are in place for the 2019 Local Elections,” concluded Martin.
