Carrigaline Reunited, But Tracton Is Split
The new Local Electoral Areas for Cork have been published and the good news is that Carrigaline Town has been reunited into the one area. This Electoral Area now includes Crosshaven, Fountainstown, Myrtleville, Minane Bridge, Ballygarvan, Ballinhassig, Ringaskiddy, Shanbally, Monkstown & Passage West.
It’s not all good news though as Tracton has been split, with Nohoval and Ballyfeard being left in the Bandon – Kinsale District.
Speaking on the news, Cllr Aidan Lombard said: “The previous boundary commission made what can only be described as a disgraceful decision to split Carrigaline down the middle which has no doubt negatively affected the town over the last four years. The Bandon Kinsale district was discussing one end of the village and Carrigaline Ballincollig district discussing the other side which was unworkable. Crosshaven was particularly affected as it would always have dealt with the Carrigaline office and then found themselves dealing with Kinsale which it has no affiliation to. I welcome the decision by this boundary commission to reunite Carrigaline and this is something that the public, community groups and politicians from all parties and none sent submissions to the commission about and thankfully those submissions were heard. The new six seat Carrigaline district will include Passage West, Monkstown, Ringaskiddy ,Shanbally, Carrigaline, Crosshaven, Ballygarvan, Waterfall, most of Tracton and Ballinhassig. While I welcome the reunification of Carrigaline I am very disappointed that the commission has again split communities. The parish’s of Tracton and Ballinhassig are very strong communities that the commission has split in a way similar to the way they split Carrigaline in the previous boundary commission. The leaving of Nohoval and Ballyfeard in the Bandon Kinsale district is a huge mistake and means that groups and individuals in Tracton have to deal with two districts and two sets of councillors. Similarly in Ballinhassig where Ballyheada is still in Bandon Kinsale district and the rest of the community is in the Carrigaline district . The boundary commission should be looking at keeping communities together in their decisions and not doing what looks to me as a mathematical exercise.
Cllr Seamus McGrath said: “I’m Delighted to report that Carrigaline Town has been reunited into the one area. This Electoral Area also includes Crosshaven, Fountainstown, Myrtleville, Minane Bridge, Ballygarvan, Ballinhassig, Ringaskiddy, Monkstown, Passage West and Waterfall.
Thank you to everyone who made submissions to the Committee and also signed the petition Michael and I had posted online.”
More on this story soon.
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