COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 14, 2008

HEADED ITEM NO. H 4 (e) (v)

REPORT OF AREA COMMITTEES

Corporate Services : 1 Report - motion passed to conduct a plebiscite to change of name of "Palmerston" to "Palmerstown"

REPORT:

The following motion as submitted by Cllr O' Connell and a report from Corporate Services were considered at the Lucan Clondalkin Area Committee Meeting on 18th June 2008

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

That the Council conducts a plebiscite, or take other steps, to eliminate the confusion about the signposting of PALMERSTOWN as the name PALMERSTON is not acceptable to the people of this area and that this confusion be officially cleared up by January 2009.

REPORT:

The definitive legal placenames of the country are contained in the maps of Ordnance Survey which date back to the time of the original mapping and valuation of the country between 1824 and 1874 and the publication of a townlands index with the 1851 census.  Correspondence issued on previous occasions from South Dublin County Council to the Director, Ordnance Survey for clarification on the correct name as recognised by the OS. The response, previously circulated to the members, clearly outlines the official name as represented by the OS is PALMERSTON.

Sections 76-79 of the Local Government Act 1946 and the Local Government (Changing of Place Names) Regulations, 1956 (as amended) set out the procedure for conducting a plebiscite in relation to the change of name of an urban district or town (S.76), townland or non-municipal town (S.77), street (S.78) and locality (S.79). While Part 18 of the Local Government Act 2001, (Sections 190 - 196)  provides for the changing of names of areas this (with the exception of S197) has not yet commenced.

Any official change in the name of PALMERSTON to PALMERSTOWN will require a statutory plebiscite under the prescribed legislation.

Before a plebiscite can be carried out a prescribed procedure is required including the recommendation of the council that the procedure for the taking of a statutory plebiscite be initiated.  Thereafter a list of   qualified electors for the purpose of taking the plebiscite on the proposal must be prepared and made available for public inspection for a three week period. The list must then be formally adopted by the  council in advance of taking the plebiscite.  The plebiscite to determine the consent of the majority of the "qualified electorate" may then be held.   It is estimated that the are approx 8,000  "eligible electors" , all of whom must be issued with a ballot paper through the postal system and provided with a pre paid envelope for their reply .   Other logistical issues and application of the various statutes relating to conducting a plebiscite must also be determined.                                                      

Following discussion the members unanimously resolved to recommend as follows:

"That the Council conducts a plebiscite to establish the consent of the "qualified electors" to change the official name of Palmerston to Palmerstown."

This matter is now formally before the members for consideration.