Reduction in County Councillors and no Town Councils

The political make-up of the county will see a reduction in both the number of Councillors and electoral areas, not to mention a complete abolition of Town Councils as from the 2014 local elections.

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan made the announcement when launching the publication of the Report of the Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee. Despite the unveiling yesterday in Dublin, details of what the report contained was widely speculated upon since the Boundary Committee first began the review on local electoral areas back in November last year.

In Cavan, the number of sitting County Councillors will be reduced from the current 25, to that of 18. The Committee is recommending that there be three local electoral areas, down from four, with six elected members representing each. Based on population this is one member for every 4,830 of the population.

Cavan town and the town of Belturbet would be included in the new local electoral area of

Cavan-Belturbet. “The geographic proximity of the towns and the population density in the

electoral divisions to the west of the county informed this recommendation”, the report says.

It is the second such major politico-geographic change affecting the area in as many years after Boundary Commission proposed plans to include the west of the county in a new four-county spanning constituency with South Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim.

Cootehill which has a town council and the town of Bailieborough are proposed for inclusion

in the new local electoral area called Bailieborough–Cootehill which will encompass the

north-east of the county. The final electoral area takes its name from the most populous town in the area, Ballyjamesduff and encompasses areas in the south the county.

The Minister said “the completion of this report is an important next step in the Government’s programme for local government reform. The review had a specific goal of improving balance and consistency in representational ratios in local government, while taking particular account of factors such as the location of towns in the new municipal governance arrangements provided for in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government. The terms of reference for the review provided for minimum levels of representation in lower population counties and cities.”

 

Details of the three new county electoral areas:

Cavan - Belturbet

Ardue, Ballyconnell, Ballymagauran, Bawnboy, Belturbet, Benbrack, Bilberry, ButlersBridge, Carn, Carrafin, Castlesaunderson, Cavan Rural, Cavan Urban, Derrylahan, Derrynananta, Diamond, Doogary, Dowra, Dunmakeever, Eskey, Grilly, Kilconny, Killashandra, Killinagh, Killykeen, Kinawley, Lissanover, Milltown, Moynehall, Pedara Vohers, Swanlinbar, Teebane, Templeport, Tircahan and Tuam.

 

Bailieborough – Cootehill

Ashfield, Bailieborough, Ballyhaise, Canningstown, Carnagarve, Clonervy, Cootehill Rural, Cootehill Urban, Corraneary, Cuttragh, Drumanespick, Drumcarn, Drung, Enniskeen, Killinkere, Kingscourt, Knappagh, Larah North, Larah South, Lisagoan, Rakenny, Redhill, Shercock, Skeagh, Stradone, Taghart, Termon, Tullyvin East, Tullyvin West and Waterloo.

 

Ballyjamesduff

Arvagh, Ballintemple, Ballyjamesduff, Ballymachugh, Bellananagh, Bruce Hall, Castlerahan, Corr, Crossbane, Crossdoney, Crosskeys, Denn, Derrin, Drumcarban, Drumlumman, Graddum, Kilbride, Kilcogy, Kilgolagh, Kill, Kilnaleck, Loughdawan, Lurgan, Mullagh, Munterconnaught, Scrabby, Springfield and Virginia.