"Local Authority is without powers regarding Placenames"

At the meeting of the County Council's Strategic Policy Committee on Culture, Community Development and Amenities held on Wednesday February 27th 2008 in the wonderfully restored Cabinteely House, County Councillors and Sectoral Representatives were advised that the "local authority is without powers regarding place names". This statement was part of the written reply to my question regarding the powers of the County Council in respect of the proposal that I tabled at the December 5th 2007 meeting of this SPC on a County Placenames Policy. The basis for this statement, according to Tim Carey, County Heritage Officer, is that surprisingly many sections of Part 18 of the Local Government Act, 2001 remain unimplemented by the Minister. These include Sections 188 to 196 regarding the powers of the local authority to change an existing name. Noting the Sections quoted in the reply, I maintained that the statement that the County Council is "without powers" in respect of placenames is incorrect as the Sections quoted only relate to "changing existing placenames" and not to regulating new ones or correcting the Irish language versions of the existing placenames. This point was generally agreed and in an effort to progress matters, the Heritage Officer suggested to the meeting that the Survey of Placename Signage which is currently being conducted by the County Council could be put out, in draft form, for public comment. I agreed with this strategy as a basis of providing very useful information upon which to consider the proposed Placename Policy document. I proposed that the survey in draft form be made available for public comment and consultation, this proposal was seconded by Veronica Heywood, and agreed. During the course of the very lively debate the position of the utterly ridiculous, nonsensical and totally embarrassing use of An Naigín as the Irish version of Sallynoggin was raised by several members as was the "re-naming" of the Sallynoggin Roundabout as the "Glenageary Roundabout" - why? In conclusion, I would like to record my sincerest gratitude to the County Heritage Officer, Tim Carey, who has been of considerable assistance throughout this process and no doubt, this will ensure that any County Placenames Policy adopted will be fully implemented by the County Council.