No name change for new Kilmore electoral area

A REQUEST by Wexford councillors for the name of the proposed new electoral district to be changed from Kilmore to Rosslare Local Electoral Area has been turned down by Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, John Paul Phelan.

Minster Phelan’s private secretary Aisling Glynn wrote a letter pointing out that work has now commenced within the Department on the preparation of the necessary orders giving effect to the Electoral Area Boundary Committee’s recommendations. ‘It is anticipated that these orders will be made in the autumn of this year. ‘We acknowledge the request that the recommended Kilmore local electoral area be renamed as Rosslare local electoral area,’ said Ms. Glynn.

‘In this respect, proof copies of the draft orders, with regard to each Council’s functional area will firstly be circulated to each local authority in advance of being signed’.

‘It looks like the Kilmore Local Electoral Area is the name that has been decided upon’, District Manager Angie Laffan told last week’s Municipal Borough meeting. Cllr. George Lawlor said it is an ideal opportunity to raise the profile of Rosslare. ‘We need to go a bit further than simply accepting the Minister’s letter. We have tremendous opportunity in terms of Brexit’.

Cllr. Tony Walsh of People Before Profit said he would agree. ‘We need to highlight Rosslare in every possible way’.

Cllr. Jim Moore who lives in Kilmore, said it should be left to the new electoral area to promote Rosslare. Cllr. Lawlor asked the local authority to reply to the letter outlining how members feel it is a lost opportunity, particularly in light of Brexit.