Kilkenny Borough restored by Minister John Paul Phelan

KILKENNY’S borough and county council status has been restored by local Fine Gael Junior Minister, John Paul Phelan, in a move which will see the mayor once again having precedence in the city at civic functions.

The Kilkenny TD, who is Minister for State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, made the change as part of his first official duty at Cabinet yesterday.

“This move means that Kilkenny will be a borough once more. While some will say it’s more of a civic pride issue than anything, it is an important development for effective and efficient local government here in Kilkenny.

 “Kilkenny is one of five areas where change has come into effect. This review also impacts on Clonmel, Drogheda, Wexford and Sligo. Three new boroughs will be formed in Dundalk, Navan and Bray – each of which has a population over 30,000.

“I’ve now tasked a committee with the job of looking at the revenue raising powers of each authority. But this move effectively means that Kilkenny with have its City Mayor back and there will be no return to the duplication of service which saw the borough scrapped and just one authority representing all,” Minister Phelan said.