THE COUNCILS OF North and South Tipperary are to merged from 2014, following a decision by the cabinet to amalgamate the functions of their two county councils.

Environment minister Phil Hogan – from the neighbouring county of Kilkenny – this afternoon confirmed that the separate county councils for North Tipperary and South Tipperary will cease to exist from the 2014 local elections onward, being replaced by a new single county council.

Hogan said that the new council structure would help to stimulate economic growth by merging commercial rates across the two jurisdictions, which currently costs businesses in the North Riding hundreds of thousands of euro each year.

The merged authority, the minister added, would “bring about stronger, more cohesive local government that is better positioned to promote the interests of the county”.

The merger of the two authorities will end 173 years of administrative separation. The decision follows a recent move to merge the city and county councils of Limerick.

An implementation group is to be appointed to oversee the amalgamation. The merged council will retain an elected membership of around 47, in line with the combined size of each of the two current councils.