Anger over Limerick City extension plan

The proposed inclusion of communities in South-East Clare in any boundary extension of Limerick City has prompted opposition from local residents.

Limerick City Mayor, Kevin Kiely, stated last week that the city council would be seeking to include communities such as Meelick, Parteen and Shannon Banks in their latest boundary application.
His statement sparked an angry reaction from local householders who have vowed to vehemently oppose any bid to have land taken from South-East Clare.
Environment Minister John Gormley has established an independent committee to examine the case for extending the jurisdiction of Limerick City.
Under the controversial terms of reference, the five members of the new committee will examine whether there should be changes made to the boundary of Limerick City, having examined the city council’s application for a boundary extension.
They will assess if the boundary of Clare, Limerick City or County should be changed, whether Limerick City and County Council should be unified and if alternative arrangements should be made to co-ordinate functions, administration and leadership between the three existing authorities on a more regional basis.
The last boundary proposal was unanimously rejected by 32 Clare county councillors and the council also presented a case as to why Limerick City Council’s bid for extra land in Clare should be turned down.
A lobby group, Clare Against the Boundary Extension (CABE), which was set up in 1995 to oppose any change in the Clare boundary is being re-activated.
One of the members of the original committee, Geraldine Edwards, told The Clare Champion she would be contacting former chairman Jim Gully from Clonlara later this week with a view to organising a meeting of the group.
Ms Edwards said that she expected that the possibility of making a submission to the independent committee would be discussed at the first meeting.
The Gillogue resident confirmed Councillor Kiely’s recent statement had created a lot of anger in South-East Clare.
“I don’t know if the debate about this boundary extension will ever stop. People are very angry. It is unreal that politicians are bringing it up over and over again.
“Some residents in South-East Clare don’t realise that their house and car insurance premiums will increase if they are included under the jurisdiction of Limerick City because the city is regarded as a higher risk area.
“Nobody is against the expansion and development of Limerick City. Limerick City can build whatever they want but they don’t need to take part of Clare to do this. We will be organising a meeting and I expect a decision will be taken about making a submission to the new committee,” she said.
Meanwhile, Clare County Councillors met behind closed doors last Thursday for a comprehensive discussion on issues relating to the extension application.
No decision was taken at the meeting, which was attended by councillors in the Killaloe Electoral Area, Shannon Electoral Area, Ennis Area and some members from North and West Clare.
The attendance also included Mayor of Clare, Councillor Tony Mulcahy and director of services Bernadette Kinsella.
The council is considering the preparation of a submission to the independent committee, which will discussed again at a meeting next week.