Opposition to expansion plans (Monksland to become part of Westmeath)

guylikeme

A group have been set up to halt plans to put Monksland and some other areas close to Athlone into Westmeath for budgetting etc.

I don't the protests. Roscommon is not an Urban county. Monksland's residents mainly work on the Westmeath side and thus should get the benefits of same. The area has far more in common with Westmeath than Roscommon. Finally, it is natural that a towns expansion means that its boundaries (for efficient gov purposes) also expands.

As it is, we end up with TDs who cannot utter a sentence without "Rurryl Ireland" this and that, rather than actually doing something for Monksland. You dont get the Healy-Rae types on the Westmeath side (the odd one ok, but plenty of choice in comparison).

nice_guy80

guylikeme wrote: »

A group have been set up to halt plans to put Monksland and some other areas close to Athlone into Westmeath for budgetting etc.

I don't the protests. Roscommon is not an Urban county. Monksland's residents mainly work on the Westmeath side and thus should get the benefits of same. The area has far more in common with Westmeath than Roscommon. Finally, it is natural that a towns expansion means that its boundaries (for efficient gov purposes) also expands.

As it is, we end up with TDs who cannot utter a sentence without "Rurryl Ireland" this and that, rather than actually doing something for Monksland. You dont get the Healy-Rae types on the Westmeath side (the odd one ok, but plenty of choice in comparison).

the only reason Monksland exists is because Roscommon County zoned the land to allow development.
Westmeath County Council has prevented the expansion of Athlone and Mullingar in terms of industry and housing.
It is the largest urban area in Roscommon and contributes a huge % of the rates in Co Roscommon which run services throughout the rest of the county.
It'd be like taking Athlone out of Westmeath and putting it into Roscommon.

guylikeme

nice_guy80 wrote: »

the only reason Monksland exists is because Roscommon County zoned the land to allow development.
Westmeath County Council has prevented the expansion of Athlone and Mullingar in terms of industry and housing.
It is the largest urban area in Roscommon and contributes a huge % of the rates in Co Roscommon which run services throughout the rest of the county.
It'd be like taking Athlone out of Westmeath and putting it into Roscommon.

But why do locals have to subsidise a largely barren rest of the county and get nothing in return, not even a drop in property tax. Completely unfair imo.

As for putting athlone into Ros, again the commercial side moved over the bridge long ago for a reason

Avatar MIA

Let Monksland go into Westmeath, but transfer 10 times the size of non urban Westmeath into Roscommon to compensate.

nice_guy80

guylikeme wrote: »

But why do locals have to subsidise a largely barren rest of the county and get nothing in return, not even a drop in property tax. Completely unfair imo.

As for putting athlone into Ros, again the commercial side moved over the bridge long ago for a reason

how does it subsidise the rest of the county?

the rates are set and every business pays.
the council then do up their services budget based on the projected income.
Roscommon Co Co created the industrial and commercial zones to encourage businesses to set up there.
they also gave permission for a ridiculous amount of houses to be built

meanwhile Westmeath Co Co won't even let factories be built in the IDA park in Mullingar!

Maybe Westmeath people are jealous and after a few All Ireland football medals in the county

guylikeme

nice_guy80 wrote: »

how does it subsidise the rest of the county?

the rates are set and every business pays.
the council then do up their services budget based on the projected income.
Roscommon Co Co created the industrial and commercial zones to encourage businesses to set up there.
they also gave permission for a ridiculous amount of houses to be built

meanwhile Westmeath Co Co won't even let factories be built in the IDA park in Mullingar!

Maybe Westmeath people are jealous and after a few All Ireland football medals in the county

If one guy lives in rural and 10 live in urban, then the road, broadband pipes, one off housing expenses needs to be disproportionately paid for by the urban guys. It's inefficient. My arg...pay for yourself.

Dublin already does this for most of Ireland.

Addle

I've lived in Monksland, and I liked that it was in County Roscommon.
Of the 3 families I know that live there, none of the parents are employed in Westmeath.
Of the 2 people I know that work there, neither live in Westmeath.

If boundaries were to change based on where the residents worked, that'd mess up the whole country!

deni20000

who cares I live in tipperary

Avatar MIA

deni20000 wrote: »

who cares I live in tipperary

Nobody cares that you live in Tipperary.

nice_guy80

guylikeme wrote: »

If one guy lives in rural and 10 live in urban, then the road, broadband pipes, one off housing expenses needs to be disproportionately paid for by the urban guys. It's inefficient. My arg...pay for yourself.

Dublin already does this for most of Ireland.

what is your point exactly?

that is the way taxes work
money is pooled, spent where needed.

cyclops999

Addle wrote: »

I've lived in Monksland, and I liked that it was in County Roscommon.
Of the 3 families I know that live there, none of the parents are employed in Westmeath.
Of the 2 people I know that work there, neither live in Westmeath.

If boundaries were to change based on where the residents worked, that'd mess up the whole country!

Schools, Banks, Cinema, Shopping Centres, Gardai, Ambulance, Fire, Churches, Undertakers, not in Monksland. So where do you spend your euro should think mostly Athlone Co Westmeath.

billbond4

I dont see what all the fuss is about.
Last year there were three local authorities taking care of athlone, now that Athlone Town council is gone there is two. Its a pure waste of money to have two local authorities managing one town.
I think there is only a big fuss being kicked up from Roscommon Co co as they will be loosing a large amount of revenue.
They havent done much for the monksland area I have been living in area for 10years+, only last year they have upgraded the footpaths,roads around mount william ct,cushla.
There is only one playground.
They have removed at least 3 dustbins.
They didnt want the roundabout at the entrance to river village where it is currently they wanted it at Corran Riada, which made no sence.
They have been very slow to do anything on the ground, so hopefully Westmeath Co Co will be better.
But only time will tell.

Addle

Monkskand wouldn't have evolved at all if it wasn't for ros co co.

billbond4

it possibly might not have evolved so much regarding elan etc, but there would have been as many houses built there with cheaper land prices.

nice_guy80

billbond4 wrote: »

it possibly might not have evolved so much regarding elan etc, but there would have been as many houses built there with cheaper land prices.

Funny.

You think Westmeath Co Co would have allowed any houses?

pawrick

Reckon we should reinstate the Barony of Athlone and send pillaging parties out in to the surrounding countryside in both counties for em...sheep and more sheep?!

Imo it makes sense that there is one entity responsible from an administrative and development point of view for Athlone and also it will mean the vote in the town and it's urban hinterland is consolidated and would hopefully mean it has greater say in county politics. I don't care if that's in Westmeath or Roscommon personally.

From moving back in recent years I can see the Roscommon CoCo have done a lot on their side of the town to improve the Monksland/Tuam road area, hopefully with any changes that come about we do not see a deterioration in what has been done to date and possibly can rebalance the town to also provide more places of employment on the Roscommon side. I don't see what an administrative change should impact the physical borders of the county though which seems to be part of the fuss

billbond4

The updates to roads finish at river village where roscommon Co Co were paid huge monies by elan, other industries in Monkland and oyster homes.
The updated roads on the old tuam Road should have been done years ago,so not sure now much credit roscommon Co Co for doing it then,perhaps they knew what was coming and decided to do something to say to people look at what we have done. But roads and infrastructure should have been done at least a decade ago

Addle

Not just economic consequences for County Roscommon...
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/roscommon-gaa-circling-the-wagons-in-the-face-of-perceived-land-grab-threat-1.2498880

Addle

Do some people really think Westmeath Co Co will be any better at maintaining roads etc?
What examples are there around county Westmeath to show that the council is in any way better than Roscommon co co?
Especially considering that Westmeath already have a bigger pot to spend from?

cyclops999

Addle that's just more scaremongering Buccaneers Rugby based in Athlone Co Westmeath play in Connacht so sporting boundaries should not be an issue. By amalgamating both sides of Athlone it makes Athlone a stronger brand to entice more business & employment. Every month we hear jobs announced for Dublin, Cork, Limerick & Galway cities. Let's make Athlone a City lets get a Universty status, let Athlone be the biggest region in the BMW the bigger the fish you are the more you cannot be ignored. I don't care if it's Athlone Westmeath or Athlone Roscommon as long as Athlone grows which in turn will create better opportunity for our kids and grandkids . I'm from Westmeath side of Athlone but I envy not having a TD like Denis Naughton as do a lot of people on the Connacht side of Athlone who cannot vote for him. So let's look at the bigger picture for Athlone to develop further it needs to expand.

nice_guy80

cyclops999 wrote: »

Addle that's just more scaremongering Buccaneers Rugby based in Athlone Co Westmeath play in Connacht so sporting boundaries should not be an issue. By amalgamating both sides of Athlone it makes Athlone a stronger brand to entice more business & employment. Every month we hear jobs announced for Dublin, Cork, Limerick & Galway cities. Let's make Athlone a City lets get a Universty status, let Athlone be the biggest region in the BMW the bigger the fish you are the more you cannot be ignored. I don't care if it's Athlone Westmeath or Athlone Roscommon as long as Athlone grows which in turn will create better opportunity for our kids and grandkids . I'm from Westmeath side of Athlone but I envy not having a TD like Denis Naughton as do a lot of people on the Connacht side of Athlone who cannot vote for him. So let's look at the bigger picture for Athlone to develop further it needs to expand.

Westmeath Co co have a record of doing a half arsed job on the Connacht side

look at the design and quality of the exits off the bypass on the Roscommon side compared to the Westmeath side. Westmeath Co Co led the design and build of the by pass at the time

yabadabado

guylikeme wrote: »

But why do locals have to subsidise a largely barren rest of the county and get nothing in return, not even a drop in property tax. Completely unfair imo.

So much wrong with that post .

Do you know how taxation works ?

Addle

Elan must be one of the biggest employers in Athlone?
Being in co Roscommon hadn't hindered it.

Addle

Submit your objection here
http://www.opacity.ie/save-roscommon

billbond4

nice_guy80 wrote: »

Westmeath Co co have a record of doing a half arsed job on the Connacht side

look at the design and quality of the exits off the bypass on the Roscommon side compared to the Westmeath side. Westmeath Co Co led the design and build of the by pass at the time

The latest exit was designed by Roscommon Co Co at the Monksland exit and its terrible ,way to sharp.
And major road projects are handled by the TII now, so infrastructure should be designed and better built now

guylikeme

Basically every politician in the Ros area opposing this. Turkeys voting against Christmas.

They argue that westmeath coco have the Galway road in bits. My opinion is that is because for them it is currently a road to nowhere. Getting ownership of the monksland area would incentivise them to sort out this.

#shaveroscommon

Addle

Better the devil you know!

nice_guy80

This review is such a waste of time and resources.

Rikand

billbond4 wrote: »

I dont see what all the fuss is about.
Last year there were three local authorities taking care of athlone, now that Athlone Town council is gone there is two. Its a pure waste of money to have two local authorities managing one town.
I think there is only a big fuss being kicked up from Roscommon Co co as they will be loosing a large amount of revenue.
They havent done much for the monksland area I have been living in area for 10years+, only last year they have upgraded the footpaths,roads around mount william ct,cushla.
There is only one playground.
They have removed at least 3 dustbins.
They didnt want the roundabout at the entrance to river village where it is currently they wanted it at Corran Riada, which made no sence.
They have been very slow to do anything on the ground, so hopefully Westmeath Co Co will be better.
But only time will tell.

It took Westmeath County Council generations to do anything on the "Roscommon" side of Athlone. Connacht Street was already run down in the 80's when I first started going up there. Nothing done in the 90's. Nothing down in the 00's. Action only started happening when the TriAthlone's started and there was further improvements made for the River Festival. Connacht street and surrounding areas had been crying out for a tidy up for 20 years but it only happened when a big event was unfolding.

Councils are slow. It doesnt matter which council you have, it's going to take a long time to get anything done no matter who's running the show.

Getting the footpaths done around Cushla after about 8-10 years of asking was pretty good!

nice_guy80

Rikand wrote: »

It took Westmeath County Council generations to do anything on the "Roscommon" side of Athlone. Connacht Street was already run down in the 80's when I first started going up there. Nothing done in the 90's. Nothing down in the 00's. Action only started happening when the TriAthlone's started and there was further improvements made for the River Festival. Connacht street and surrounding areas had been crying out for a tidy up for 20 years but it only happened when a big event was unfolding.

Councils are slow. It doesnt matter which council you have, it's going to take a long time to get anything done no matter who's running the show.

Getting the footpaths done around Cushla after about 8-10 years of asking was pretty good!

Westmeath have a terrible record in job creation
there is an IDA business park in Mullingar with no factories in it

BrianBoru00

cyclops999 wrote: »

Addle that's just more scaremongering Buccaneers Rugby based in Athlone Co Westmeath play in Connacht so sporting boundaries should not be an issue. By amalgamating both sides of Athlone it makes Athlone a stronger brand to entice more business & employment. Every month we hear jobs announced for Dublin, Cork, Limerick & Galway cities. Let's make Athlone a City lets get a Universty status, let Athlone be the biggest region in the BMW the bigger the fish you are the more you cannot be ignored. I don't care if it's Athlone Westmeath or Athlone Roscommon as long as Athlone grows which in turn will create better opportunity for our kids and grandkids . I'm from Westmeath side of Athlone but I envy not having a TD like Denis Naughton as do a lot of people on the Connacht side of Athlone who cannot vote for him. So let's look at the bigger picture for Athlone to develop further it needs to expand.

It does nothing of the sort.
West side of the bridge has been ignored under the Westmeath system so it makes no sense apart from Westmeath gaining more money.
Being in two seperate counties is not going to impact the college being made into a university or Athlone getting city status.


Ireland has county based councils. If we are to change that then by all means change the system so that each region is centred on a large urban area.

BrianBoru00

guylikeme wrote: »

If one guy lives in rural and 10 live in urban, then the road, broadband pipes, one off housing expenses needs to be disproportionately paid for by the urban guys. It's inefficient. My arg...pay for yourself.

Dublin already does this for most of Ireland.

Another ridiculous statement. . .How about we decentralise 10000 government jobs from Dublin to Athlone, Roscommon, Birr, Longford and Carrick-on-Shannon towns - thats 2000 jobs each.

Thats less traffic on the road in Dublin, frees up probably 5000+ family homes which are in chronic shortage in the capital.
15 minutes commute from those five towns brings people into rural villages and towns where there is plenty of housing stock at a fraction of the cost of the Dublin houses, post offices and garda stations and schools and shops/pubs can remain open because of the influx of people. So you now have probably an extra 20 million being spent in these areas instead of Dublin so other small businesses can develop.

That way Dublin doesn't have to "do this for most of Ireland".
It would take someone with common sense to make this decision and a willingness to ignore unions looking (ridiculously) for relocation bonuses etc.

The motorway system in Ireland is very good and those towns mentioned are within 90 minutes of Dublin airport which is similar to several major international cities.

As I said, it only takes a little common sense.

guylikeme

BrianBoru00 wrote: »

Another ridiculous statement. . .How about we decentralise 10000 government jobs from Dublin to Athlone, Roscommon, Birr, Longford and Carrick-on-Shannon towns - thats 2000 jobs each.

Thats less traffic on the road in Dublin, frees up probably 5000+ family homes which are in chronic shortage in the capital.
15 minutes commute from those five towns brings people into rural villages and towns where there is plenty of housing stock at a fraction of the cost of the Dublin houses, post offices and garda stations and schools and shops/pubs can remain open because of the influx of people. So you now have probably an extra 20 million being spent in these areas instead of Dublin so other small businesses can develop.

That way Dublin doesn't have to "do this for most of Ireland".
It would take someone with common sense to make this decision and a willingness to ignore unions looking (ridiculously) for relocation bonuses etc.

The motorway system in Ireland is very good and those towns mentioned are within 90 minutes of Dublin airport which is similar to several major international cities.

As I said, it only takes a little common sense.

We tried decentralisation. Workers want to work and live in Dublin (or at least a city). Anyways, we shouldn't rely on public jobs. I laugh when i hear people crying to TDs about banks and post offices closing. There's no profitable work for them, why would they stay. People who choose to live in isolated areas need to learn to use a computer or move.

As for extra cars in the capital, the city needs to have more spent on it, not less. By this, i mean a Metro. Parish pump stuff stops this happening as the resources are trickled down to do pointless things like bypassing Tralee and putting a railway line between Ennis and Athenry.

Anyway, this whole debate has just copper-fastened my vote for FG. Every opposition politician has jumped on the Save Roscommon bandwagon for not one decent reason. Ill always vote for less politicians, unnecessary councillors and (most importantly) tax cuts. If moneys going to be wasted, ill waste it myself

L.Jenkins

BrianBoru00 wrote: »

It does nothing of the sort.
West side of the bridge has been ignored under the Westmeath system so it makes no sense apart from Westmeath gaining more money.
Being in two seperate counties is not going to impact the college being made into a university or Athlone getting city status.


Ireland has county based councils. If we are to change that then by all means change the system so that each region is centred on a large urban area.

I completely agree and anyone just needs to take a walk or drive around the West side of town. There's nothing in terms of Anchoring Business. Yes there is Supervalue in Monkland, but the area in general seems a little decrepit.

guylikeme

Itzy wrote: »

I completely agree and anyone just needs to take a walk or drive around the West side of town. There's nothing in terms of Anchoring Business. Yes there is Supervalue in Monkland, but the area in general seems a little decrepit.

I think that the logic is that for Westmeath currently it is a "road to nowhere" as they don't have control beyond the border.

Alot of decent cycle lanes now on Ballymahon Road/near college if you want good examples of work that has been done. Perhaps if expansion happened, this road would get better taken of rather than falling between 2 pillars.

As for the "west side of town run down" argument, the terrain is extremely hilly without a Golden Island style space to park cars etc; what are you supposed to do with it. For me, the only improvement possible would be to replace the derelict businesses with residential there

yabadabado

Awful argument ,Westmeath have ignored areas they have control of because it is a "road to nowhere" , by that logic they will ignore the outer reaches of the 30 km square of land they are looking for now if they were given it.

L.Jenkins

guylikeme wrote: »

As for the "west side of town run down" argument, the terrain is extremely hilly without a Golden Island style space to park cars etc; what are you supposed to do with it. For me, the only improvement possible would be to replace the derelict businesses with residential there

The last thing the West hand side of town, especially Connaught street needs, is to replace derelict business premises with a residence. It actually needs Business investment to bring a little life back to it.

guylikeme

Itzy wrote: »

The last thing the West hand side of town, especially Connaught street needs, is to replace derelict business premises with a residence. It actually needs Business investment to bring a little life back to it.

Space and the terrain is the issue. Would need some serious digging and flatenning to make businesses locate there

BrianBoru00

guylikeme wrote: »

We tried decentralisation. Workers want to work and live in Dublin (or at least a city). Anyways, we shouldn't rely on public jobs. I laugh when i hear people crying to TDs about banks and post offices closing. There's no profitable work for them, why would they stay. People who choose to live in isolated areas need to learn to use a computer or move.

As for extra cars in the capital, the city needs to have more spent on it, not less. By this, i mean a Metro. Parish pump stuff stops this happening as the resources are trickled down to do pointless things like bypassing Tralee and putting a railway line between Ennis and Athenry.

Anyway, this whole debate has just copper-fastened my vote for FG. Every opposition politician has jumped on the Save Roscommon bandwagon for not one decent reason. Ill always vote for less politicians, unnecessary councillors and (most importantly) tax cuts. If moneys going to be wasted, ill waste it myself

and you've completely missed or ignored the point. Where are you getting your information on that "workers want to live in cities" ? A lot would be happier in the countryside or at least a small village.
Decentralization didn't work because the powers that be were pandering to the unions. Seriously - relocation bonus? Anyone who sells a house in Dublin and moved to the country will have their bonus right there in the cost of living.
Dublin only needs more money spent on it if we continually place all of our resources there. As for politicians - the local Fine Gael politicans are on record as being in the "Save Roscommon" camp so your copper-fastening of your vote on that basis is rather silly

guylikeme

BrianBoru00 wrote: »

As for politicians - the local Fine Gael politicans are on record as being in the "Save Roscommon" camp so your copper-fastening of your vote on that basis is rather silly

2 words: Party whip. They wont vote against it because they can't. Its not a big enough issue to abandon the party over.

BrianBoru00

guylikeme wrote: »

2 words: Party whip. They wont vote against it because they can't. Its not a big enough issue to abandon the party over.

Yes, they can.
It's happened before and if your think its not a big enough issue your not living in the real world.Denis Naughton voted against his party over Roscommon hospital - a decision which may have led to him being ousted from the party but will definitely have secured his seat at the next elections. The current candidate will definitely not get elected if she comes out in support of the change.

In any case it wouldn't come down to a vote as its within the ministers remit to make the decision himself.

guylikeme

BrianBoru00 wrote: »

Yes, they can.
It's happened before and if your think its not a big enough issue your not living in the real world.Denis Naughton voted against his party over Roscommon hospital - a decision which may have led to him being ousted from the party but will definitely have secured his seat at the next elections. The current candidate will definitely not get elected if she comes out in support of the change.

In any case it wouldn't come down to a vote as its within the ministers remit to make the decision himself.

Hospital was a big issue. More efficient County boundary is not. Naughten was correct in what he did. Of course there's a line(no pun intended).

Lt Dan

guylikeme wrote: »

A group have been set up to halt plans to put Monksland and some other areas close to Athlone into Westmeath for budgetting etc.

I don't the protests. Roscommon is not an Urban county. Monksland's residents mainly work on the Westmeath side and thus should get the benefits of same. The area has far more in common with Westmeath than Roscommon. Finally, it is natural that a towns expansion means that its boundaries (for efficient gov purposes) also expands.

As it is, we end up with TDs who cannot utter a sentence without "Rurryl Ireland" this and that, rather than actually doing something for Monksland. You dont get the Healy-Rae types on the Westmeath side (the odd one ok, but plenty of choice in comparison).

No offence, and I am open to correction, but you sound like a blown in .

You are very dismissive of "rurryl Ireland". Part of the Monksland catchment area such as Cornafulla, Summerhill, (Clann na Gael Land) is what? Hardly urban. Up the road from Monksland is Bealamulla and then up to Brideswell and not far from Curraghaboy etc . Athlone itself is hardly urban around Coosan or out to Ballymahon / Glassan

Plenty of Rossies around Monksland area before the big housing expansion. As already noted by others, Dennis Naughton is someone who would easily get many an Athlonian vote . No doubt, the expansion to the Galway areas close to Athlone boosted his ability to top the poll recently despite Fitzmaurice.

Why should people want to trust Westmeath CC after the holy negligence they made of Connacht Street for over a decade.? How long was Jim Fawl's old pub allowed to be direlect before it was taken down?

Athlone is central to both counties. Only natural that there is a common grounds. (part of the western town was officially part of Roscommon before 1890's)

There is identity as well,particularly in football. You will always know that a Roscommon team are playing with flags and buntins around the town , even in Western part of Athlone. Same can ever be said about Westmeath. Hell, you would know Mayo are playing in a big game . The only time maroon and white is seen is when Galway are passing through on the way to Croker.

Speaking of Westmeath, Mullingar might as well be on the other side of the moon as far as Athlone is concerned. Moate maybe closer to Athlone with shared townlands but not Mullingar Hell, Ballinasloe has more commonality. Maybe Athlone should join Roscommon lol.


Plenty of choice politicians in Westmeath? Lol. You don't follow politics do you sir? Really? But hey, let us not diss the mighty TR Dallas . Councillor of Westmeath CC (still going?) Plenty of concern about rural issues there

What has Penrose done for Athlone since 1992? Paul McGrath of Fine Gael (remember him?) Donnie Cassidy?( Won a seat over Mary) The current Fianna Fáil TD, Michael Troy is hardly a man of the urban scene. Could Mary O'Rourke take all of the credit for what did come to Athlone during the 1990's? (as oppose to the County Town, Mullingar, getting it)

You are naive to think Boxer Moran, whose Independent Alliance does NOT have speaking rights yet (will if they mingle with another group) and in opposition (for now) is going to get things done immediately. (No doubt will work hard and pump hard) Maybe the way, the Healy Rae Political Machine has done pretty well for the Kingdom of Kerry. Dennis Naughten gave Fine Gael no option but to kick him out over Roscommon County Hospital protest. Penrose stayed with Labour (not the Parliamentary party of course) when he got shafted by the Government over Mullingar Barracks (where a lot of his vote came from). God forbid, Ming did more to raise the concerns of Roscommon and he was in opposition. Westmeath had two TD's (3 including Longford) in the last government parties..........what happened? (Yes, tough times , hard decisions)

As you know well, Monskland and Bealamulla expanded in 2000's when many Athlone families left (or fleed) well known housing estates in Athlone, which sadly, have gone to crap (eg Willow Park)

Lt Dan

BrianBoru00 wrote: »

and you've completely missed or ignored the point. Where are you getting your information on that "workers want to live in cities" ? A lot would be happier in the countryside or at least a small village.
Decentralization didn't work because the powers that be were pandering to the unions. Seriously - relocation bonus? Anyone who sells a house in Dublin and moved to the country will have their bonus right there in the cost of living.
Dublin only needs more money spent on it if we continually place all of our resources there. As for politicians - the local Fine Gael politicans are on record as being in the "Save Roscommon" camp so your copper-fastening of your vote on that basis is rather silly

Prime Time at the time made it very clear that those in the effected Departments were not prepared to move from the Dublin region. Hence why decentralization was scrapped.

Lt Dan

cyclops999 wrote: »

Addle that's just more scaremongering Buccaneers Rugby based in Athlone Co Westmeath play in Connacht so sporting boundaries should not be an issue. By amalgamating both sides of Athlone it makes Athlone a stronger brand to entice more business & employment. Every month we hear jobs announced for Dublin, Cork, Limerick & Galway cities. Let's make Athlone a City lets get a Universty status, let Athlone be the biggest region in the BMW the bigger the fish you are the more you cannot be ignored. I don't care if it's Athlone Westmeath or Athlone Roscommon as long as Athlone grows which in turn will create better opportunity for our kids and grandkids . I'm from Westmeath side of Athlone but I envy not having a TD like Denis Naughton as do a lot of people on the Connacht side of Athlone who cannot vote for him. So let's look at the bigger picture for Athlone to develop further it needs to expand.

Rugby Clubs are not based on the County (I know you referred to Province) nor did rugby or soccer ever play a role in creating County Identities. Not long ago, Buccs were with Ballinasloe, Buccs could easily seek election to Leinster if they wished (why would they? too many trophies to win). Been a while Buccs (who are still going strong) created much hype in Athlone (League glamour went with rise of the provincial game) Marist Brothers play soccer in Connacht Schools Competitions so?

Different kettle of fish to compare the soccer/rugby scene over the GAA scene when it comes to County identity etc - You know this

yabadabado

If anything it would probably be better to hand over part of Athlone/Westmeath to Roscommon CC at least they have shown some initiative unlike their counterparts across the river.

What's the latest on this anyway?

yabadabado

Deleted User wrote: »

What's the latest on this anyway?

I presume its been put to bed,stupid idea that was pushed forward by Labour/Alan Kelly.

Lt Dan

yabadabado wrote: »

I presume its been put to bed,stupid idea that was pushed forward by Labour/Alan Kelly.

Praise Allah/God/Jehovah and whatever you are having..What on earth was he/they thinking.?

yabadabado

Lt Dan wrote: »

Praise Allah/God/Jehovah and whatever you are having..What on earth was he/they thinking.?

They werent thinking for about 5 years and that came home to roost in the GE.Bunch of ****ing idiots.

billbond4

I thought there was going to be some sort of vote on it?
http://www.shannonside.ie/news/dail-supports-bill-to-allow-people-in-south-roscommon-vote-on-any-possible-boundary-change/
So going by the above think, fast tracked before summer means Autumn/Winter, so I guess it will be another year before the effected residents can vote.