This article is from page 32 of the 2007-07-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
AN EAST Clare councillor has called on Clare’s newly elected pub- lic representatives to let Green En- vironment Minister, John Gormley know they will have no truck with an extension of Limerick’s bounda- ries into Clare.
OORT d er NE Oven (op e-biioe miele ie at arecent council meeting and in a press statement.
“Last year Minister Dick Roche gave the people of Clare a positive indication that he wouldn’t grant a
boundary extension into south east Clare. Whilst I remain confident that the new environment minister John Gormely TD will not grant an extension, it is nonetheless impor- tant that as an elected representa- tive of the area I continue to force- fully articulate the concerns of my constituents.”
Cllr Crowe said that should the minister be considering such a move, he should exercise differen- tiation.
“Whilst there is validity to the boundary opposition arguments put
forward by Limerick County Coun- cil I consider the Clare argument to hold far more substance,” he said.
While the consideration for Lim- erick authorities is largely one of rate payments, Cllr Crowe said, Clare’s concerns are about identity as well as money.
“A Limerick City boundary exten- sion into south east Clare will rob the people of south east Clare of a sense of identity,” he said
In addition, people who are sub- sumed into the new boundary would pay higher car and home insurance
and business people would pay higher rates, the councillor said.
‘At present arguments are abound- ing regarding Limerick’s city-status being in jeopardy. As an elected member of Clare County Council I] am well aware of the ‘bigger pic- ture’ of the mid-west regions:Lim- erick, Shannon and Ennis are pivot- al to the National Spatial Strategy,” he continued.
“I do however believe that the economic and social continuity of Limerick City does not hinge on a boundary extension.”