Review group split over merger of councils

A split has emerged in the Cork local government review group with two of its five members poised to vigorously oppose a recommendation to merge the two local authorities.

The Cork Local Government Review Group, which met this week to finalise its report for Environment Minister Alan Kelly is, as had been widely anticipated, expected to recommend within weeks the merger of Cork city and county councils.

But it has emerged two members of the group — UCC lecturer in government, Dr Theresa Reidy, and Professor of History, Dermot Keogh — will oppose the merger option favoured by Tom Curran, John Lucey SC and review group chair Alf Smiddy.