Motorways and county boundaries

veryangryman

Alot of inconsistencies across the motorway network. There's a limerick sign on m8 but no offaly sign on M6 for instance.

I use those examples as they are both short stretches where sign is/would be applicable.

Nra usually quite consistent these days with signage, gs roundabouts at each exit etc, bit surprised at these anomalies.

L1011

This is down to each county, not the NRA

Deedsie

It's the same at moneygall on the M7. The Obama plaza service station and the junction for moneygall are both in Tipperary but there is no county boundary sign along the motorway coming up to the junction or just after when you re-enter Offaly.

L1011

L1011 wrote: »

This is down to each county, not the NRA

Is it not the NRA that has sole responsibility for signage along the motorway network.

L1011

Deleted User wrote: »

Is it not the NRA that has sole responsibility for signage along the motorway network.

For actual road signs - which these aren't

D Trent

veryangryman wrote: »

Alot of inconsistencies across the motorway network. There's a limerick sign on m8 but no offaly sign on M6 for instance.

I use those examples as they are both short stretches where sign is/would be applicable.

Nra usually quite consistent these days with signage, gs roundabouts at each exit etc, bit surprised at these anomalies.

Wats a gs roundabout ?

veryangryman

D Trent wrote: »

Wats a gs roundabout ?

Grade Seperated. i.e The traffic that does not wish to use the exit does not have to use the roundabout.

Alun

L1011 wrote: »

For actual road signs - which these aren't

Agreed. What actually is the point of these signs anyway .. why would I give a monkeys what county I'm in?

dubhthach

Simple solution abolish counties as structure of local government in this state, GAA won't be happy though

Carawaystick

dubhthach wrote: »

Simple solution abolish counties as structure of local government in this state, GAA won't be happy though

Towns were abolished as a structure of local govt last year, didn't see a big rush to take down "welcome to <your local area>" signs.

loyatemu

dubhthach wrote: »

Simple solution abolish counties as structure of local government in this state, GAA won't be happy though

they abolished them in the North years ago, and Dublin County Council is gone as well, the GAA haven't been affected...

L1011

loyatemu wrote: »

they abolished them in the North years ago, and Dublin County Council is gone as well, the GAA haven't been affected...

I think there'd be some uproar if they started breaching traditional county boundaries in ROI - in NI they had no influence or sway over it being done by the direct rule government but down here they do have plenty of politicians in their pockets. Fair few counties are too small to be practical and others would make sense to divide up / merge in part too.

dubhthach

L1011 wrote: »

I think there'd be some uproar if they started breaching traditional county boundaries in ROI - in NI they had no influence or sway over it being done by the direct rule government but down here they do have plenty of politicians in their pockets. Fair few counties are too small to be practical and others would make sense to divide up / merge in part too.

Indeed one of solutions to issue of Limerick proposed a couple of years ago was that instead of giving a slice of Clare to Limerick that they should created a unified Council made up of Limerick, Clare and North Tipp (Thomond?) with an enlarged urban district for the city at it's heart.

Of course it was a non flyer with the "Parteen will always be Clare" brigade.

A pity given the historic reality that all three did form the core of the historic Kingdom of "Thomond".

Deedsie

dubhthach wrote: »

Indeed one of solutions to issue of Limerick proposed a couple of years ago was that instead of giving a slice of Clare to Limerick that they should created a unified Council made up of Limerick, Clare and North Tipp (Thomond?) with an enlarged urban district for the city at it's heart.

Of course it was a non flyer with the "Parteen will always be Clare" brigade.

A pity given the historic reality that all three did form the core of the historic Kingdom of "Thomond".

I always hoped they would do this but now that Tipperary is one county council again. It's not going to happen. A shame though as Limerick is exactly the same distance from Ennis and Nenagh. The Midwest region or Thomond is North Kerry, Limerick, Clare, North Tipperary and South Offaly.

Still our Norman ancestors introduced the county boundaries. They are a big part of rural Ireland and should always be maintained as an important part of our history and culture

Sam Russell

What could be done is to group counties together to reduce the number of local authorities, like Lois-Offaly, Galway-Mayo, etc. These could be called Regional Authorities or something like that but retaining the original counties in name. The long term aim would be reduce the Regional Authorities (with paid elected representatives) down to about 8 or 9.

Other councils could still exist, but unpaid, like parish councils or town commissioners.

dubhthach

Sam Russell wrote: »

What could be done is to group counties together to reduce the number of local authorities, like Lois-Offaly, Galway-Mayo, etc. These could be called Regional Authorities or something like that but retaining the original counties in name. The long term aim would be reduce the Regional Authorities (with paid elected representatives) down to about 8 or 9.

Other councils could still exist, but unpaid, like parish councils or town commissioners.

NUTS-3 statistical regions:



these had regional authorities elected by constituent councils, these were replaced in 2014 by "regional assemblies".

Personally I think we should just convert these "regions" into Local authorities and abolish the county councils. You could have an "elected mayor" taking on the role of "County manager" etc.

Carawaystick

dubhthach wrote: »

Personally I think we should just convert these "regions" into Local authorities and abolish the county councils.

sher just abolish those and let people complain to their td/Taoiseachabout potholes, tree's on the path, etc

Worked a treat for people I knew living on Home Farm Road in Drumcondra in Dublin.

In France, each Department and Region boundary is signed; Province and Comarca boundaries are signed in Spain.

Sam Russell

dubhthach wrote: »

NUTS-3 statistical regions:



these had regional authorities elected by constituent councils, these were replaced in 2014 by "regional assemblies".

Personally I think we should just convert these "regions" into Local authorities and abolish the county councils. You could have an "elected mayor" taking on the role of "County manager" etc.

I like that. Of course it would need specific powers to be devolved, and specific funding. LPT is the first obvious one, together with perhaps motor tax, plus a percentage of income tax.

To me, it is ridiculous the the greater Dublin area does not have a single regional assembly/council.

Bummer1234

Guys, Don't want to hijack this thread but know one or two people will know the answer without starting a new thread,

Signs around the country saying example 97km to Dublin, Where is it to in Dublin(The GPO, City Hall or where)?

Sam Russell

I think it is O'Connell Bridge.

Deedsie

Bummer1234 wrote: »

Guys, Don't want to hijack this thread but know one or two people will know the answer without starting a new thread,

Signs around the country saying example 97km to Dublin, Where is it to in Dublin(The GPO, City Hall or where)?

I heard it was based on the distance from post office in each town?

Schadenfreudia

Deedsie wrote: »

I heard it was based on the distance from post office in each town?

Well, less than 1km from O'Connell Bridge to the GPO so it shouldn't matter. I never realised the O'Bama Plaza was in County Tipperary.

What a let-down

L1011

Deedsie wrote: »

I heard it was based on the distance from post office in each town?

Not the most reliable indicator in urban areas. Maynooth Post Office has moved six times in my lifetime up and down a ~0.5km distance - its now nearly back where the second one in my lifetime / first I remember is.

Big towns have An Post run postoffices (actually I think the current one here is too, but it was francise/Postmaster before) and rural areas they seem to be inherited in families and never move either but medium sized towns may as well have mobile ones sometimes.

Deedsie

Schadenfreudia wrote: »

Well, less than 1km from O'Connell Bridge to the GPO so it shouldn't matter. I never realised the O'Bama Plaza was in County Tipperary.

What a let-down

Why is that a let down?

L1011

Deedsie wrote: »

Why is that a let down?

He's meant to be "from" Offaly.

Deedsie

L1011 wrote: »

He's meant to be "from" Offaly.

Tipp/Offaly border. It's about 500 metres from Offaly

Schadenfreudia

Deedsie wrote: »

Why is that a let down?

O'Bama is an Offaly man - it is a travesty to have his Plaza located in Munster!

blackwhite

dubhthach wrote: »

NUTS-3 statistical regions:



these had regional authorities elected by constituent councils, these were replaced in 2014 by "regional assemblies".

Personally I think we should just convert these "regions" into Local authorities and abolish the county councils. You could have an "elected mayor" taking on the role of "County manager" etc.

They'd need a bit of revision from the above - Region 1 containing the Fanad peninsula and Donegal Gaeltacht areas, and also containing Dundalk/Drogheda and part of the greater Dublin commuter belt is a bit ridiculous (much like the Euro Parliament regions TBH).

Markcheese

Those divisions don't really equal local goverment though - more regional government - somebody in far north Kerry would have no connection /investment with north side cork city ! And as someone else said Dundalk has more in common with Dublin now than with donegal -

Sam Russell

Looking at it, it would be logical to extend region 4 northward to the border. In fact, perhaps extending regions 2 and 3 northwards and absorbing region 1. Of course, the regions would need renumbering then.

The boundaries appear to follow current county boundaries which could be straightened or made more logical.

If they became regional authorities, and were logical, they could have real powers devolved to them which would be an improvement. We could then have real reform of politics.

monument

blackwhite wrote: »

They'd need a bit of revision from the above - Region 1 containing the Fanad peninsula and Donegal Gaeltacht areas, and also containing Dundalk/Drogheda and part of the greater Dublin commuter belt is a bit ridiculous (much like the Euro Parliament regions TBH).

The area marked as 1 would be bonkers - on the eastren side it far more belongs in the area marked as 4.

It might be better to have more autonomous city / large town areas within those regions. Even autonomous large urban areas and then have even larger regions?

Aard

Worth pointing out that those Regional Authorities are no more. Instead there are three Regional Assemblies, which will handle regional planning in Ireland.

Greater autonomy for city-regions is certainly the trend worldwide.

Schadenfreudia

Are those regional assemblies up and running?