Westmeath to be split in three and to lose three Council seats
As predicted, Westmeath is to lose three County Councillors, and is to have just three electoral areas under the redrawing of Ireland’s local authorities map.
It is also to lose its town councils in Athlone and Mullingar.
The Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report 2013, released just this evening, has recommended the creation of a seven-seat Mullingar-Coole electoral area; a six-seat Mullingar-Kilbeggan electoral area, and a seven-seat Athlone electoral area.
The county previously had five electoral areas.
The Report said that based on the 2011 population of Westmeath, amounting to 86,164, with one member for every 4,830 of population, Westmeath’s entitlement was eighteen councillors.
It gets an additional two councillors due to losing its two town councils.
“Having regard to the requirement that the number of councillors representing a local electoral area should be not more than 10 or less than 6, the 20 members have to be divided amongst either 2 or 3 local electoral areas,” the committee stated.
The members opted to recommend three local electoral areas for Westmeath.
The new “Mullingar-Coole”, comprises the two existing local electoral areas of Mullingar East and Coole.
In the centre of the county a new six-member local electoral area of Mullingar-Kilbeggan is recommended, formed from the existing Mullingar West local electoral area and the eastern parts of the existing Kilbeggan local electoral area. Within the town of Mullingar, the same dividing boundary as currently applies is retained.
To the west of the county, a new seven-member local electoral area is recommended for Athlone that includes the area currently within the town council boundary and the town’s wider hinterland in Westmeath, taking in all of the existing Athlone local electoral area and the western parts of the existing local electoral area.
“In making its recommendations the committee noted that the town of Mullingar is currently divided between two local electoral areas. In the interests of electoral, community and geographic coherence, it is recommended that this arrangement continue within the new local electoral areas,” the report explained.
WHAT CONSTITUENCY ARE YOU NOW IN?
Athlone
Ardnagragh, Athlone East Rural, Athlone East Urban, Athlone West Urban, Auburn, Ballybroder, Ballymore, Ballymorin, Bellanalack, Carn, Castledaly, Doonis, Drumraney, Glassan, Jamestown, Kilcumreragh, Killare, Killinure, Moate, Mount Temple, Moydrum, Muckanagh, Noughaval, Streamstown, Templepatrick, Tubbrit, Umma and Winetown.
Mullingar-Coole
Ballinlough, Ballyhealy, Ballynaskeagh, Boherquill, Bracklin, Castle, Cloghan, Clonarney, Clonlost, Collinstown, Coole, Coolure, Copperalley, Delvin, Derrymore, Enniscoffey, Faughalstown, Finnea, Fore East, Fore West, Gaybrook, Glore, Griffinstown, Heathstown, Hilltown, Huntingdon, Kilcumny, Killua, Killucan, Killulagh, Kilpatrick, Kinnegad, Kinturk,Knockarrow, Knockdrin, Lackan, Milltown, the parts of the EDs of Mullingar North Urban,
Mullingar Rural and Mullingar South Urban which lie north and east of the Dublin-Sligo railway line, Multyfarnham, Owel, Raharney, Riverdale, Rosmead, Russellstown, Stonehall, Street, Taghmon and Woodland.
Mullingar-Kilbeggan
Ardnaglew, Ballinalack, Ballykilmore, Ballynagore, Belvidere, Carrick, Castlelost, Castletown, Churchtown, Clonfad, Dysart, Emper, Glenlough, Greenpark, Hopestown, Kilbeggan, Kilbixy,Lauree, Middleton, the parts of the EDs of Mullingar North Urban, Mullingar Rural and Mullingar South Urban which lie south and west of the Dublin-Sligo railway line, Newtown,Piercetown, Portloman, Rahugh, Rathconrath, Rathowen, Skeagh, Sonna and Tullaghan.