IT is not too late for Environment Minister John Gormley to initiate a plebiscite in South-East Clare on contentious proposals for a boundary extension by Limerick City into the area, according to a Limerick county councillor.
Councillor Kevin Sheehan has generated a lot of debate throughout the Mid-West after suggesting that residents in the affected areas of any approved boundary extension should be given the opportunity to vote on the issue.
Regardless of the outcome of the proposed plebiscite, Councillor Sheehan stressed the decision of householders to reject or accept a plan to become part of Limerick City should be respected.
The report recommending a single governing authority for Limerick City and county was presented to Minister Gormley recently.
According to media reports, it also recommended that parts of South-East Clare, such as Westbury and Shannon Banks, should be governed in future by a new Limerick authority.
Councillor Sheehan told The Clare Champion he made the proposal having consulted with a number of people living in Clare and others who felt it was worth further debate and analysis.
He stressed he would not like to see a situation where people living in South-East Clare feel they are being forced to become part of Limerick City, without using some form of democratic process to give them their say.
“I live in West Limerick and I like going into Kerry for a break. However, when it comes to football and hurling matches, I would be on opposite sides  and would not like Kerry to take over part of West Limerick.
“Any boundary extension is a very emotive issue and I can see why Clare people would  not be happy with any extension. There are Clare people living on the Clare side of Limerick City in the city environs who have a close relationship with Limerick City.
“A change in the Clare boundary isn’t vital for Limerick City. People living in the city environs will not go away if there isn’t an extension. These people will still shop, work and play in Limerick City.
“I don’t want to see any bitterness or sour taste created by any extension. It is late but not too late for a vote to take place. The minister could opt to delay a decision by two months,” he said.
Although Councillor Sheehan is in favour of a single authority governing Limerick City and County, he accepted that it would not be appropriate for a Limerick councillor to suggest how many people in South-East Clare should be surveyed or what areas should be included in any vote, as this is a matter best decided by Clare public representatives.
However, Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald has rejected the proposal, claiming it is too late to organise a vote on this issue.
He claimed a lot of people are not being made aware of the implications of coming under the control of a new Limerick City authority, such as higher insurance premiums and commercial rates.
Commenting on the recent flooding in Shannon Banks, he said no assistance was provided to residents in the area by Limerick City Council.
Instead, he pointed out residents appreciated the support and help provided by Clare County Council personnel and the Clare fire service when it came to preventing flooding in homes.
He praised senior executive officer, Seán Lenihan and Clare fire chief, Adrian Kelly for visiting Shannon Banks every day and night to see if more help was needed.
“The 32 councillors on Clare County Council have already taken a strong stance opposing any change in the boundary. This is an issue affecting the whole county of Clare and not just a part of South-East Clare.
“I have not made any proposals about what should be done with the suburbs of Limerick City that are in County Limerick,” he said.

Concern for the future of South-East Clare

THE six Killaloe Electoral Area councillors have reiterated their determination to hold onto Clare’s borders in the South-East, amid concern regarding a leaked recommendation published in a Limerick newspaper last week.
The area councillors met with the Mayor of Clare Councillor Christy Curtin, deputy mayor Councillor Michael Kelly and Noeleen Fitzgerald, Clare County Council’s head of finance, at last week’s Killaloe Electoral Area meeting.
Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald said there is concern locally.
“We have been meeting people non stop. The rumours are that Shannon Banks and Westbury are getting the kick into Limerick. We were told that we could not see this report but someone has this. I am very worried about it. Someone is trying to upset the people of South-East Clare. I’m worried that Shannon Banks and Westbury will go into Limerick,” he remarked.
The councillor also told the members he feels this is a move to push Minister Gormley’s agenda to amalgamate the town and county councils. “I’m dubious about Mr Gormley. He has one agenda,” Councillor Fitzgerald claimed.
Meanwhile, Councillor Michael Begley disputed that this was an issue that originated in Dublin.
“Limerick have always ignored going into negotiation with County Clare on this and discuss this issue with us in a proper manner. It is up to us to defend our position. If they had any interest in how they advance it, they would have engaged all authorities impinging on them. They never did that,” he said.
He felt that the reports published in a Limerick newspaper regarding alleged recommendations were just “speculation” and he criticised the way they got out in the public arena.
Councillor Cathal Crowe said, “We have said it all before but it looked to be coming to a head in October. Limerick has always sought for the issue to be put to bed. There is a report out there that none of us have seen. We are not sure if it is speculative or if it’s a kite that is put up there. Not one meeting have we had with the city council, despite having joint meetings in the past with our neighbours in Nenagh.”
He claimed the Taoiseach’s hands are “tied” on this.
“He has to take a measured view,” Councillor Crowe claimed. He stressed this is an issue that centred in Limerick City Council, “a Fine Gael-led council”, and urged his colleagues to “talk some sense” into their party colleagues on Limerick City Council.
Councillor Pat Burke said he cannot see a reason why Minister Killeen and Deputy Dooley are unable to tell the council more on the issue.
“I don’t trust this Fianna Fáil-led Government but I certainly don’t trust Minsiter Gormley,” he said.
His party colleague Councillor Joe Cooney said he has “grave concerns for what’s going on for the people in the South-East Clare area”.
He called for the release of the full report. “The full report needs to come out. We need to put more pressure on and we need to stand together not to allow this to go ahead. There is a good boundary there in the Shannon and we need to stick to that,” he added.
Councillor Pat Hayes urged the councillors to reiterate their support for the submission sent in by the council on their opposition to the boundary extension.
“The onus is on us to make our views known publicly. We will work with all other authorities but issues between Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council should be resolved in that area. It is nothing to do with Clare,” he said.
Responding to the representations made by the councillors, Noeleen Fitzgerald said the council received no correspondence in relation to the issue and the body knows no more than what was published in the media.
She said any change in the boundary is “not going to enhance the co-ordination of services in that area or enhance Limerick City Council’s economic policy. The city council can increase its population base without going into Clare”.