Fianna Fáil General Election Candidate for Roscommon-Galway Cllr. Eugene Murphy has called on the Environment Minister to immediately abandon the review of the county boundary between Roscommon and Westmeath.
The Strokestown native explained, “I am calling on Minister Alan Kelly to immediately abandon his ridiculous proposal to change the county boundaries, which seeks to subsume 30 square kilometres of Co. Roscommon into Co. Westmeath. This would have a detrimental effect on the entire county – economically, socially and politically if it was to be given the go ahead”.
Areas in South Roscommon such as Monksland, Bealnamullia, Summerhill, Crannagh, Drum, Clonown, Bogganfin and Rooskey Crossroads fall with an Area of Interest identified by the 3 man boundary review committee appointed by Minister Kelly.
Cllr Murphy added, “There is no logical basis for conducting such a review. No report has been produced by the Minister or his department which would suggest that there is a problem with the administration of services in the Athlone environs in the first place.
“There is huge opposition to any proposal that would see any part of Roscommon move into Westmeath. 1,500 people turned up to a public meeting in the Athlone earlier this month to voice their opposition to the plan. These people cannot be ignored.
“Minister Kelly is proposing to strip away the identity of Roscommon people by proceeding with this ludicrous proposal. Boundaries are important to people – they are what identify us – boundaries in townlands, parishes, counties and provinces – they are all about identity.
“It was revealed at the public meeting that the public won’t be entitled to vote on the issue. The whole process is undemocratic to say the least and must be stopped immediately,” concluded Cllr. Murphy.