Wed 8th February 2017

Kilkenny County Council totally rejects the recommendations of the report of the Waterford Boundary Review Committee published this evening on the Department of Housing, Planning and Community and Local Government website according to Councillors Matt Doran and Ger Frisby.

Councillor Doran said: "The entire process, from its initial terms of reference to the current conclusions of the report are skewed entirely towards the requirements of Waterford city at the expense of the people of Kilkenny. The wishes of over 19,000 submissions made against the proposals by people impacted in Kilkenny have been ignored. We will fight this every step of the way".

"The recommendations of this report are outrageous and will not be accepted," according to Ger Frisby, Cathaoirleach of the Piltown Municipal District, the area most impacted by the proposed changes: "The report can try and dress it up any way it wants, this is all about Waterford and Kilkenny will use all means necessary to ensure it does not go any further."

"While it will take some time to study the content and conclusions of the report, an initial examination of the document shows that it flies in the face of the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the people effected in Kilkenny while being inconsistent, illogical and setting a precedent which if followed will have wide ranging implications for many counties throughout the country," according to Councillor Doran.

Councillor Frisby refers to possible compensation payable to Kilkenny in respect of the changes an issue which is recommended in the report. "This is an insult and no amount of money can compensate the people or the county for damage to its identity which if passed cannot be reversed," he said.

ENDS