Local government requires major reform

Boundary controversies will recur until we address the territorial configuration of local authorities and the lack of a regional tier of government, says Proinnsias Breathnach.         

The controversy concerning the boundary between Cork city and county and whether the two should be merged is the inevitable outcome of longstanding defects in Ireland’s local government system. Failure to address these defects means that such controversies will continue to recur in the future.

The two main problems are the lack of a regional tier of government in Ireland and the territorial configuration of local authorities.