Outgoing Fine Gael Councillor Fidelma Healy-Eames has claimed that her area, Oranmore, is under-represented on the County Council.

The Oranmore Electoral Area now has over 27,000 residents, and the general rule is one councillor per 5,500 people. This means that Oranmore should have five local representatives, while it currently has four.

Senator Healy-Eames told the Galway Independent that this news vindicates the communities who are “screaming out” for resources and may feel under-represented and under-resourced. She said that she will be using her seat in the Seanad “to call for the Minister for Local Government to conduct a review to reflect the current population as it applies within Galway West.”

The figures also found that the issue affects several areas in Galway and across the country. In the City Council, the research found that the South Ward (comprising Knocknacarra and Salthill) is entitled to an extra councillor.

Spokespersons for both the City and County Councils said they had not yet been informed of any review to be carried out, while the Department of Local Government said a review is “being given full consideration”.

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