‘Super Cork council would be a disaster’

A unified super local authority in Cork would be a “disaster” for the region and would spell the end of local government in the county, one of Ireland’s longest serving local politicians warned.

Former Fine Gael Cllr Jim Corr, who retired from politics last May after 40 years on Cork City Council, has called for a major extension of the city boundary, and for the creation of two new county councils — one to administer the affairs of West Cork and the other for the east of the county.

His stance is in direct contrast to former Cork city manager Tim Lucey, the current chief executive of Cork County Council, who said earlier this month that he believes a merger of the city and county councils to create a super local authority is feasible. County mayor Alan Coleman said there is a compelling case.