COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 09, 2013

MOTION NO. 4

MOTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

Given that the residents of 'Palmerstown Village' are deeply concerned that their Historic and Heritage Village has been misnamed 'Palmerston Village' instead of 'Palmerstown Village' (possibly named from the townland of 'Palmerston' instead of from the Irish name of Baile Phamar), and that current M50, N4 and 148 signage is directing people to a town land (Palmerston) that no longer has relevance in an Urban environment; that search engines such as Google currently directs customers who Google 'Palmerstown' to Palmerstown Village and environs, while customers who Google 'Palmerston' are quite rightly directed to Palmerston Rathmines but not to the Village of Palmerstown in this County; therefore, before the name 'Palmerston' becomes popular outside its current narrow confines (i.e. this County), the members of this Council strongly recommends and herby resolves: (1) that a plebiscite be held to change the name of Palmerston Village to Palmerstown Village involving all of the electors and ratepayers north of the 148 incorporating the Village area of Palmerstown, i.e. lower Kennelsfort Road, the Old Lucan Road, Mill Lane, Waterstown Avenue, Robin Villas, Riversdale Estate, Riverside Estate, Riverview Estate and Hollyville Estate including all industrial premises on both Old Lucan Road and Mill Lane as well as Stewarts Hospital; (2) that management provide to this Council an accurate costing for (2.1) the estimated cost of holding of the plebiscite (2.2) the location of signage that will have to be changed should the plebiscite successfully revert the name of Palmerton Village back to Palmerstown Village (2.3) the estimated cost of this work (2.4) that provision be made in the 2014 Budget for the holding of the plebiscite and adjustment of current signage and for any consequential budget adjustment for 2014 be also included and (2.5) that the plebiscite be conducted as early as possible in 2014.

REPORT:

As detailed in a series of reports commencing with the report to Lucan Area Committee meeting on May 22nd 2012 http://intranet/cmas/documentsview.aspx?id=36377 the statutory procedure to change the official name of a street, place or locality is set out in the Local Government Act, 1946, the Local Government (Changing of Placenames) Regulations 1956, as amended by Sec. 67 LG Act 1994. Changes to the name can only be done by way of conducting a plebiscite of the qualified electors in the area and the consent of the majority of qualified electors is required for any change to be made by resolution of the Council.

The stages in the process are as follows:

  1. A request is received to have a name changed by plebiscite
  2. The request goes to Council for approval for a plebiscite of qualified electors
  3. A draft list of qualified electors (Electoral Roll) is prepared by the Returning Officer. The names on the roll shall be numbered consecutively
  4. An advertisement is placed in local papers stating details of proposed name change, and stating where the draft list of qualified electors can be viewed
  5. Any objections to the list of qualified electors must be lodged within a 3 week period.
  6. The final list of qualified electors (Electoral Roll) is formally adopted by Council
  7. Once adopted the plebiscite is initiated.
  8. Ballot papers are sent by ordinary post to every person whose name is on the electoral roll along with a prepaid postage envelope addressed to the returning officer for return of ballot paper.
  9. Ballot papers must be signed in the presence of the witness who must also sign the form
  10. Counting of papers takes place and result of Ballot determined – the majority of qualified electors must be in favour of the change
  11. Decision is informed to Council. In accordance with Section 79 of the Local Government Act 1946 (as amended) the Council may change the name of the locality. This is a reserved function of the Council.

A plebiscite of qualified electors in relation to a change of name from Palmerston to Palmerstown was carried out in May 2009 where 7037 ballot papers were issued. As the majority of the qualified electors did not vote in favour of the proposed change, despite considerable efforts being made, it was not possible to change the official name of Palmerston.

The costs involved in conducting that plebiscite included

A conservative estimate of the total costs for these elements of work came to €9,000 approximately. A further nominal sum in respect of the cost of administration and for staff costs amounting to €4,000 approximately was also included, giving an approximate total cost = €13,000. This cost excluded the cost of the actual replacement of the signage, which will also be required should the plebiscite be undertaken and carried. Signage at some 14 locations on the M50 motorway and the N4 National Primary would require replacement and it had been estimated that this would cost an additional €60,000. Therefore the total estimated cost previously indicated to give effect to a successful plebiscite is €73,000.

It is noted that the motion now being proposed eliminates almost 6,500 electors from the proposed plebiscite. Based on a reduced electorate of some 560 electors, the costs involved have been calculated to be reduced to approximately €68,000. However this reduction must be tempered with the likelihood that the signage replacement works would have potentially significant additional Health and Safety costs (provision has not been made for night time working, complete road closures nor associated traffic management costs).

While the Budget 2014 figures have not been presented nor considered by the Members, no provision has been included in the Draft Budget for any of the costs associated with the plebiscite proposed in this motion. It is a matter for the Members to consider the adjustments necessary to the Draft Budget to accommodate this proposal.

Having regard to all the circumstances and the fact that a plebiscite has already been held within the lifetime of this Council and the financial demands which are being placed upon this Council, it cannot be recommended that the motion be passed.