Local Elections

When:
Local Government Elections must be held every 5 years

Who can vote?
Every person over 18 years whose name is included in the electoral register is entitled to vote in the local area in which s/he lives. It is not necessary to be an Irish citizen to vote in a Local Election.

Who can be elected?
Persons over 18 years of age who are registered voters are eligible for election to Local Government except persons who are Government Ministers, Ministers of State, Members of the Gardai and the Defence Forces and certain groups of public employees. The grounds for disqualification include failure to pay money due to a local authority and certain court convictions and prison sentences.

Nomination of Candidates:
Candidates must be nominated one month before polling day.
How:

There are 31 Local Government Authorities in Ireland

In total there are 137 electoral areas in Ireland and each of them elects a number of Councillors. The number of County and City Councillors to be elected in 2014 is 949.

To read more click on Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report (May 2013)

Elected Members – Roles and Responsibilities Reserved Functions 

HOUSING AND BUILDING

 ROAD TRANSPORT AND SAFETY

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

 RECREATION AND AMENITIES

DEVELOPMENT AND INCENTIVE CONTROLS

CITIZENS/COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

MISCELLANEOUS 

 

  • adopt the annual budget with democratic accountability for all expenditure by local authority
  • appointment, suspension or removal of CEO - oversight and monitoring of work of CEO
  • adoption of integrated local economic and community development plans and service delivery plans
  • greater decision-making role in local enterprise and economic development in local and community development activities
  • substantial range of functions at district level on a fully devolved basis including: a local policy/regulatory role in areas such as planning, roads, traffic, housing, environmental services, recreation, amenity and community development; formal civic functions; a general representational and oversight role; and citizen/community engagement. The scope for further devolution of functions to local government will be pursued through ongoing engagement with relevant Government Departments. More far-reaching expansion of the local government remit will be pursued on an ongoing basis as the reforms across the local government system take effect.
  • Local government will also have a central role in the oversight and planning of local and community development programmes, through arrangements based on the report of a Steering Group on the alignment of the local government and local development sectors.

Results of Local Government Elections May 2014

Local Government Election 2019

 May 24th 2019

Postal - Special Voters Supplement

Sunday 28-04-2019 is the closing date for your Local Authority to receive an application for entry to the Supplement to the Postal or Special voters list for the European Parliament election and local elections

Supplement Closing Date

Tuesday 07-05-2019 is the closing date for your Local Authority to receive an application for entry to the Supplement to the register of electors for the European Parliament

All  forms available on www.checktheregister.ie

ACP Programme/workshops updated material 

The following workshop material in the Local Elections Section of the Active Citizenship/Voter Education manual has been updated 

The Powers and Functions of Local Authorities

Candidate Profile Eileen (fictitious)

Candidate Profile Seamus (fictitious)

 

 

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Elections