Concerns that North Clare will be under-represented in the next Clare County Council have been played down.
After the local elections, the five-seater Kilrush electoral area and the four-seater Ennistymon electoral area will combine to form the one municipal district.
It’s led to fear in some quarters that West Clare will continually have a voting majority.
The Ennistymon electoral area has been restored for this year’s local elections, but for the coming five-year term, the four-seat electoral area will join the five-seat Kilrush area to form one Municipal District.
This means that the nine Councillors will be drawing from the one budget.
Sinn Féin candidate Noeleen Moran claims there will be a “permanent inbuilt majority in favour of West Clare” but one outgoing North Clare representative doesn’t share her concerns.
Ennistymon Fianna Fáil Councillor Richard Nagle, who is retiring from Clare County Council, says that while the preference is for two separate districts, its in everyone’s best interests to work in partnership.
Former Fine Gael Councillor Oliver Garry, believes the conjoined approach over the past number of years has worked well for both areas.
The Kildysart man doesn’t think the disparity in the number of representatives will lead to issues down the line, but he insists it’s vital that budgets are secured for each area.
