How local government failed Cork The Brainstorm long read: like much of the country, the problems around housing, transport and infrastructure in Cork can be traced back to poor local government • 10 Feb 2018 Cork University Business School Where we live has a big say in the quality of our well-being. Employment opportunities, access to education, levels of pollution and congestion, homelessness, deprivation, segregation, gentrification, access to public transport, playgrounds, housing quality and many other factors differ from one community to the next. Of course, quality of life depends on individual characteristics, but it also depends on place characteristics. With the latter, local governments have a pivotal role in improving community well-being. In 2017, there was a tug of war between Cork city and county local authorities over their boundary of governance. Following a commitment by national government that the boundary of the city will be expanded, the city council appear to have renewed energy regarding the future of the city. A Cork Conversations: Planning for the Future forum began this January and it is aimed at enabling the city community to reflect on future city design and on Cork's inherent potential.