Cork city plan to quadruple population

AMBITIOUS plans for the biggest ever extension of Cork’s city boundary will be unveiled next week.

City manager Joe Gavin has drawn up a detailed report outlining why the city should press ahead with plans to quadruple its size and boost its population from 117,000 to 180,000.

The report, which has taken two years to complete, recommends the city take charge of Kerry Pike and Killeens, Monard, Rathpeacon and Rathcooney, Glanmire, Riverstown, Glounthane and Little Island, Curraheen, Waterfall and Ballinora, and on the south Ballygarvan, Togher, Doughcloyne, the airport, including its business park, Douglas, Donnybrook, Grange, Rochestown, Passage and Monkstown.

Councillors will be asked on Monday night to accept the report, clearing the way for a formal approach to the county council for the extension.

If successful, the move would see Cork city expand from just under 4,000 hectares to 22,359 hectares.

Mr Gavin described the proposals as the “best-fit” which would ensure better delivery of services to people living in areas on the city county boundary. The extension would provide the city with enough development land to ensure its growth and expansion over the next three decades.

“If the areas that Cork county council might cede to the city council generate a surplus of income over expenditure for the county, the county council would be fully compensated for any loss which arose,” Mr Gavin said.

“Cork has the highest population and second smallest area.

“With a population 60% the size of Cork’s, Galway has an area 28% greater.

“The comparison figures for Waterford are 38% and 5%.

“It is obvious from this comparison that Cork is being disadvantaged by lack of development land and population within its boundaries.”

Cork secured its last boundary extension in the 1960s. However, its population has declined from a high of 138,267 in 1979 to 119,143 in 2006 — a decrease of 14%.

This is fuelling the perception of Cork as a city in decline, he said.

“Cork is seen as the location with the greatest potential to act as a counterweight to the over-concentration of development on the eastern seaboard,” Mr Gavin said.

“In order to play this role, Cork must be enabled to expand and move to a higher tier of city size.”

A boundary extension boosting the population to 180,000 would significantly enhance the image of Cork as a “large” conurbation and allow it to grow over the decades and compete for investment, the report said.