Hands off! Kilkenny councillors unite against Waterford moves to reignite boundary war

Kilkenny councillors have united in their opposition to plans to resurrect the boundary dispute with Waterford.

In a statement, Kilkenny County Council said local elected members “strongly refute any suggestion from Waterford for the need for a boundary change” following the December monthly meeting of councillors this week.

The council said: “Kilkenny County Council has a strong vision for the future of the whole of the County which very much includes the Ferrybank neighbourhood. According to the Elected Members of Kilkenny they work well with Waterford and the other Councils in the South East for the betterment of the region and will continue to foster these good relationships into the future.”

The Chair of the Piltown Municipal District, Cllr Eamon Aylward, added: “With all of the immediate and urgent challenges we are facing as a Region including the impact of Covid and Brexit, a fractious row over the boundary will benefit no one least of all the people of South Kilkenny.”

Recent successes of working together with Waterford and Wexford were highlighted by councillors from the Piltown area. These include:

• The Ferrybank Neighbourhood Park, which has proved very popular with the local community both sides of the boundary and was delivered and jointly funded by Kilkenny County Council, Waterford City and County Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage;
• The recent announcement of significant additional funding for the Greenway in South Kilkenny linking Waterford to New Ross;
• The partnership approach which the council said has “delivered” the landmark €500 million North Quays development.

Councillors also points to the “significant roads projects for the area” including upgrades to the N25 and N24, which are led by Kilkenny Council.

The Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Andrew McGuinness, appealed for this partnership approach to be built on. He also told the council he has been invited to sit on a “First Citizens and Chief Executive Forum”. The Cathaoirleach added: “I have received an invite to the first meeting of the Forum on the 8^th of January which I will attend and report back to the full Council. The purpose of the Forum is to agree Regional Priorities and work together to pursue their delivery.”