BOUNDARY CHANGES: WHAT THEY MEAN
PEOPLE in Enniscorthy and New Ross will have the task of voting for two less councillors in this local election, due to changes introduced in the late 2018 boundary review which created six instead of four local electoral areas in the county.
Enniscorthy and Gorey electoral areas currently have eight seats each but that figure was reduced to six seats each by the Boundary Commission which considered nine submissions from public representatives locally.
The existing four electoral areas of Enniscorthy (8), Gorey (8), New Ross (8) and Wexford (10) have been re-configured into six areas - Enniscorthy (6), Gorey (6), Kilmuckridge (4) New Ross (6), Wexford (7) and Rosslare (5).
The new electoral areas of Kilmuckridge and Rosslare will be separate from Gorey and Wexford, with their own budgets, officials and monthly meetings.
The Enniscorthy LEA now consists of Ballindaggin, Ballycarney, Ballyhogue, Bree, Castledockress, Enniscorthy Rural, Enniscorthy Urban, Ferns, Kilbora, Killoughrum, Kilrush, Kiltealy, Marshalstown, Moyacomb, Newtownbarry, Rossalre, St. Mary’s, The Leap and Tombrack.
Gorey LEA comprises Ardamine, Balloughter, Ballybeg, Ballyellis, Ballylarkin, Ballynestragh, Coolgreany, Courtown, Gorey Rural, Gorey Urban, Huntington, Kilcomb, Kilgorman, Kilnahue, Limerick, Monaseed, Rossminoge and Wingfield.
Kilmuckridge LEA takes in Ballycanew, Ballygarrett, Ballyhuskard, Ballymore, Ballyvaldon, Bolaboy, Cahore, Castle Ellis, Castle Talbot, Edermine, Oylegate, Glenbrien, Ford, Kilcormick, Killenagh, Killincooly, Kilmallock, Monamolin, The harrow, Tinnacross and Wells.
New Ross LEA comprises Adamstown, Ballyanne, Ballyhack, Barrack Village, Barronstown, Carnagh, Carrickbyrne, Castleboro, Clonleigh, Clonroche, Dunmain, Fethard, Horetown, Inch, Kilgarvan, Killan, Killesk, Kilmokea, New Ross Rural, New Ross Urban, Newbawn, Old Ross, Oldcourt, Rathroe, Rochestown, Rosbercon Urban, Templeudigan, Templetown, Tintern, Whitechurch and Whitemoor.
Wexford LEA takes in Ardcavan, Ardcolm, Artramon, Carrick, Forth, Glynn, Kilbride, Killurin, Kilpatrick, Wexford Number 1 Urban, Wexford Number 2 Urban, Wexford Number 3 Urban, Wexford Rural and parts of Drinagh and Rathaspick to the east and north of a line drawn along the N25 to the Rosslare Road Roundabout and in an easterly direction to its intersection with the electoral division of Rosslare.
Rosslare LEA comprises Aughwilliam, Ballymitty, Bannow, Bridgetown, Clongeen, Duncormick, Harperstown, Harristown, Kilcowan, Killag, Killinick, Kilmore, Kilscoran, Lady’s Island, Mayglass, Newcastle, Rosslare, St. Helen’s, Tacumshin, Taghmon and Tomhaggard, and parts of Drinagh and Rathaspick not contained in the local electoral area of Wexford.
Based on the boundary changes, the population per member in Enniscorthy is 4.542; Gorey, 4,558, Rosslare, 4,225; Kilmuckridge, 4,181; New ross, 4,623’ Wexford, 4,197.
Every time the boundaries are changed, questions are raised about included areas which do not seem to naturally belong to the hinterland of a particulary LEA and on this occasion, examples of this are Oylegate which has been taken away from Enniscorthy and placed in Kilmuckridge LEA and Bannow and Clongeen, two areas that identify more with New Ross, and have been joined in with Rosslare.