Cork City to Expand

Back in June of this year the Government-commissioned McKinnon Group published its recommendations. It included the retention of both the Cork City Council and the Cork County Councils.

In 2015 the controversial Smiddy Report advocated by 3-2 suggested the amalgamation of both local authorities into one super-authority . A minority report by the two opposing members of the Smiddy group, both academics, encouraged Cork City Council to launch a legal challenge against the groups findings in which they were successful, leading to a reexamination of the situation by central government.

Also recommended by the MacKinnon Group was a substantial extension of the city boundary.

The MacKinnon Group proposed new boundary would now include areas such as Cork Airport, Glanmire, Ballincollig, Carrigtwohill, Little Island and Blarney.

This new boundary will increase the population of Cork city by 100,000 people, however the inclusion of Blarney, Ballincollig and Carrigtwohill has sparked debate in the local communities as to whether or not this is a positive development for the affected areas.

Unity Media will be in these communities in the coming weeks to get the views of the local people and their opinions on the boundary extension.