A campaign to have the south Dublin conurbation of Tallaght designated as a city has been formally backed by South Dublin County Council.
Local politicians and residents have been agitating for the designation since Tallaght, with a population in excess of 90,000, outgrew such cities as Galway, Limerick and Waterford, the latter of which has a population just half its size.
Yesterday the campaign received official backing with the local authority supporting a motion proposed by a Labour councillor, Mr Eamonn Maloney, ordering it to ask the Department of the Environment and Local Government to "initiate a pro-cess" of having Tallaght recognised as a city.
"The Tallaght of today is a city," said Mr Maloney. "It is no longer a country town or one large housing estate."
His motion, which was passed yesterday, was not universally supported. Some councillors from outside area argued that the initiative should be considered first by an internal working group.
However, a number of councillors from Lucan and Clondalkin supported their Tallaght-based colleagues on the ground that the designation would boost the area's profile, and help to attract inward investment.
As well as being the administrative headquarters of the council, Tallaght has its own hospital, institute of technology, theatre, two libraries, a local radio station and a local newspaper, Mr Maloney said.
"Tallaght has been the subject of much negative criticism in the past, and this is a chance to give people greater pride in the place. It will enhance the identity of Tallaght."
Citing strong popular support for the campaign, he said that he had received almost 50 e-mails from local residents in the past week - "most of them from young people" - calling for Tallaght to be designated a city.
Mr Maloney added that it was "inevitable" designation would occur. "It's only a matter of time," he said.
"Tallaght is already the third largest centre of population in the country, and that population is still growing. Within a matter of years we are going to be in excess of 100,000 people."
The council has agreed to set up a working group to identify where the city's boundaries should be set and other relevant issues such as the need for a city council for the area.
Mr Maloney admitted there were other obstacles ahead, including the possible need for new legislation, which the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, would have to introduce.
