Spatial strategy a greater priority

CLARE County Council is calling for the National Spatial Strategy to be reviewed in light of increasing connectivity between the cities of Limerick and Galway.

At a special meeting of the council on Wednesday to consider its submission to the Limerick Local Government Committee, proposals drafted by county manager Tom Coughlan and his staff were unanimously supported, with only minor technical amendments.
The local authority holds that there is no justification for extending the Limerick city boundary into County Clare. It is open, however, to the consideration of any integrated structure that could enhance public service delivery, including the possibility of a management committee to look after the needs of people living in Clare in close proximity to Limerick city.
In the submission adopted by council, the manager states, “Clare County Council considers that any alteration to the county boundary of County Clare will not in any way enhance the existing model of co-operation at regional level and will not enhance the ability of Clare to reach its potential”.
The council has also decided that it does not wish to comment on proposals to unify Limerick city and county councils. Limerick County Council decided at a meeting on Monday to recommend a merger of the two local authorities, which could provide services on behalf of Clare County Council to the small urbanised areas of the county that bound Limerick city. It does not support the boundary extension.
Limerick City Council is meeting this Thursday to consider its submission but indications are that it will once again recommend a further boundary extension, to include parts of South-East Clare.
The Clare authority feels the National Spatial Strategy should be reviewed, bearing in mind increasing connectivity between Limerick and Galway, to create critical mass as a strategic regional development zone.
“In line with the work of Atlantic Way, who are working to create a counterpole to the Greater Dublin region along the Western seaboard, we are calling for a review of the National Spatial Strategy. Recently, the rail link opened between Limerick and Galway and very soon the Shannon tunnel will be open. The road infrastructure along the Atlantic Corridor is improving all the time. In light of that, the National Spatial Strategy needs to recognise this area in terms of policy and funding,” Mayor of Clare Tony Mulcahy commented.
The council’s submission also calls for the Gateway Innovation Fund to include funding for Shannon as it is a key part of the Limerick/Shannon Gateway.
It states Clare County Council is “committed to working in partnership with adjoining local authorities in terms of service delivery and regional development” and “has and continues to incorporate the principle of regional development through partnership in its strategies and policies”.
The council acknowledged in its submission to the local government committee that the task of the committee is not limited to an extension of the Limerick city boundary. “We welcome the wide brief of the committee, which can ultimately make recommendations for improved governance structures and enhanced public service delivery mechanisms in Clare and Limerick and which can eliminate any present or future suggestion that an adjustment be made to the boundary of County Clare”.
All councillors present at the special meeting were supportive of the county manager’s draft submission, with many commenting that it clearly and fairly recognised the needs and loyalties of Clare people.
Councillor Patricia McCarthy proposed that minor amendments should be made to emphasise the need for increased and more regular international connectivity with Shannon Airport.
Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald said the submission encapsulates the council’s stance regarding the boundary extension, while Councillor Gerry Flynn noted  he had a problem with the name of the committee, the Limerick Local Government Committee, because it “effectively leaves Clare out again”.
Councillor PJ Kelly commended the submission for recognising the inadequacies and omissions in the National Spatial Strategy, while Councillor Pat Hayes said it recognised there is a need to look closely at areas of South-East Clare.
“We should look at potential for development in that area and the positives that may come out of that. We need to look at the issues affecting people in that area and put more investment in there,” he added.
Mayor Tony Mulcahy said  Clare County Council can clearly be seen as part of the solution to local government issues in the region, rather than the problem.
Representatives of all party groupings on Clare County Council and the council executive will meet with the Limerick Local Government Committee on May 27 to discuss their submission.

Clare services from Limerick authority
LIMERICK County Council has recommended that a single Limerick local authority could provide services on behalf of Clare County Council to the small, urbanised area of County Clare that bounds Limerick City.
In its submission to the Limerick Local Government Committee, which was set up by Minister for the Environment and Local Government, John Gormley, to make recommendations on the most appropriate local government arrangements for Limerick, the county council said the move would respect county loyalties and affiliations to County Clare and ensure more efficient service provision.
The council, meanwhile, said it did not support any proposed extension of the Limerick City boundary.
In formulating its submission to the Limerick Local Government Committee, it considered whether the boundary extension sought by Limerick City Council should be granted, whether structures to provide greater co-operation between Limerick City and county councils should be implemented, whether a coalescing of the two Limerick councils should be recommended and whether the boundary of Limerick city should be extended into County Clare.
In relation to the proposed boundary extension, Limerick County Council held that it would have substantial downsides and would not resolve the governance issues nor provide the necessary focus required to address the significant challenges facing Limerick.
It is firmly of the view that a unitary local authority for all of Limerick is the best model of local governance for Limerick in order to address the existing challenges. “The problems of the city and county require additional investment, which realistically cannot be found at national level alone. The unified authority is the best option to deliver the necessary savings that can be devoted to meeting some of these challenges,” Limerick county manager Ned Gleeson said.
It also considered, in relation to a boundary extension into Clare, that a Limerick unitary authority could provide services on behalf of Clare County Council to “the small urbanised area of County Clare which bounds Limerick city”.
Mr Gleeson said that a single authority for all of Limerick would be the best model to provide coherent and efficient local governance, would ensure more balanced regional development with a focus on the Gateway, be best placed to establish a single, dedicated business support unit to promote enterprise in the city and county areas and would remove the divisive boundary issue from the agenda.
If the proposal for a single Limerick local authority is adopted, it will be the largest local authority in the country, covering a population base of close to 200,000 people.
Members of Limerick County Council described the adoption of the report as momentous.
Limerick City Council is meeting this Thursday to consider their submission to the committee.
The Limerick Local Government Committee was established earlier this year to make recommendations on the most appropriate local government arrangements for Limerick. Recommendations to the committee must be submitted by May 4.
Meanwhile, Minister Gormley, in Ennis last Friday to open the town’s water treatment plant, refuted claims that he is biased in favour of Limerick City, in relation to Limerick City Council’s request for a boundary extension into parts of South East Clare. “That is completely unfounded. Let’s cool it a bit and engage in proper consultation. No decision has been made at all,” he said.
Some Clare county councillors have claimed that he is not objective in relation to the boundary extension application, as he went to school in St Munchin’s College in Limerick.
Minister Gormley promised to act on the recommendations of the Limerick Local Government Committee, which he established to consider issues of local governance in the region.
“Successive governments have been getting reports on how we encourage economic development in areas and those reports have gathered dust. I am not going to do that. I am going to listen to what the experts say and I hope that there will be proper consultation with people in the area. I don’t think these things should be imposed on people, I think proper consultation should take place and at the end of that process see what is on the table. Everyone should keep cool heads,” he added.