Limerick City and County Council

Limerick City and County Council (Irish: Comhairle Cathrach agus Contae Luimnigh) is the authority responsible for local government in County Limerick in Ireland. It came into operation on 1 June 2014 after the 2014 local elections.[1] It was formed by the merger of Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council under the provisions of the Local Government Reform Act 2014. As a city and county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. The council has 40 elected members. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the title of Mayor. The city and county administration is headed by a Chief Executive, Pat Daly. The administrative centre is City Hall, Limerick, with other civic offices at Dooradoyle. Following a plebiscite in 2019, Limerick is due to become the first local authority in Ireland with a directly elected mayor.

Limerick City and County Council

Comhairle Cathrach agus
Contae Luimnigh
Logo
Type
Type
City and County council
Leadership
Gerald Mitchell, FG
Structure
Seats40
Political groups
  •   Fine Gael (13)
  •   Fianna Fáil (11)
  •   Labour Party (3)
  •   Sinn Féin (3)
  •   Green Party (2)
  •   Social Democrats (1)
  •   Independent (7)
Elections
Last election
24 May 2019
Meeting place
City Hall, Limerick
Website
Official website Edit this at Wikidata
The area governed by the council

Directly elected mayor

At the 2019 local election, a plebiscite was held under Part 6 of the Local Government Act 2019 on the establishment of a directly elected mayor for Limerick City and County.[2] Voters in Limerick approved the proposal by a vote of 52.4%.[3] In January 2021, the government approved the publication of the report on a directly elected mayor for Limerick.[4]

While an election for the post was reportedly planned for 2021, by April 2021, these plans had been deferred.[5][6] and it was reported that a vote on such legislation may occur "in the second half of the year [2022]".[7]

In August 2023, the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 was published.[8] Kieran O'Donnell, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, stated that it was the intention of the government that the election for a directly elected Mayor for Limerick would be held on the same date as the 2024 local elections, which will be held between 6 June and 9 June 2024.[9]

Regional Assembly

Limerick City and County Council has three representatives on the Southern Regional Assembly who are part of the Mid-West Strategic Planning Area Committee.[10]

Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts

Limerick City and County Council is divided into the following metropolitan and municipal districts and local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions.[11] The municipal district which contains the administrative area of the former Limerick City Council is referred to as a Metropolitan District.[12]

Municipal District LEA Definition Seats
Metropolitan District of Limerick City Limerick City East Ballysimon, Ballyvarra, Castleconnell, Limerick South Rural, Roxborough; and the electoral divisions of Galvone A, Galvone B, Glentworth A, Glentworth B, Glentworth C, Rathbane, Singland B and St. Laurence as specified in the County Borough of Limerick (Wards) Regulations 1970[13] 7
Limerick City North Limerick North Rural; and the electoral divisions of Abbey A, Abbey B, Abbey C, Abbey D, Ballynanty, Castle A, Castle B, Castle C, Castle D, Coolraine, Farranshone, Johns A, Johns B, Johns C, Killeely A, Killeely B, Market, and Singland A as specified in the County Borough of Limerick (Wards) Regulations 1970 7
Limerick City West Ballycummin, Carrig, Clarina, Patrickswell; and the electoral divisions of Ballinacurra A, Ballinacurra B, Custom House, Dock A, Dock B, Dock C, Dock D, Prospect A, Prospect B, Shannon A and Shannon B as specified in the County Borough of Limerick (Wards) Regulations 1970 7
Adare–Rathkeale Abbeyville, Adare North, Adare South, Askeaton East, Askeaton West, Aughinish, Ballingarry, Ballyallinan, Ballybricken, Ballygrennan, Ballynabanoge, Ballynacarriga, Castletown (in the former Rural District of Rathkeale), Coolrus, Craggs, Crecora, Croagh, Croom, Dromard, Dunmoylan East, Dunmoylan West, Dunnaman, Fedamore, Fleanmore, Garrane, Iveruss, Kilcornan, Kildimo, Kilfinny, Kilpeacon, Kilscannell, Lismakeery, Loghill, Mohernagh, Nantinan, Pallaskenry, Rathkeale Rural, Rathkeale Urban, Rathmore, Riddlestown, Shanagolden and Shanid 6
Cappamore–Kilmallock Abington, Anglesborough, Ardpatrick, Athlacca, Ballylanders, Ballymacshaneboy, Bilboa, Bruff, Bruree, Bulgaden, Caherconlish East, Caherconlish West, Cahercorney, Caherelly, Cappamore, Clonkeen, Colmanswell, Crean, Cullane, Darragh, Doon South, Doon West, Dromin, Duntryleague, Emlygrennan, Galbally, Glenbrohane, Glenstal, Grange, Grean, Griston, Hospital, Kilbeheny, Kilfinnane, Kilflyn, Kilglass, Kilmallock, Kilmurry, Kilteely, Knockainy, Knocklong, Knocknascrow, Oola, Particles, Riversdale, Rockhill, Templebredon, Tobernea and Uregare 7
Newcastle West Abbeyfeale, Ardagh, Ballintober, Ballyagran, Ballynoe, Ballynoe West, Boola, Broadford, Caher, Castletown (in the former Rural District of Croom), Cleanglass, Cloncagh, Danganbeg, Dromcolliher, Dromtrasna, Feenagh, Garryduff, Glenagower, Glengort, Glensharrold, Glin, Kilfergus, Kilmeedy, Kilmoylan, Knockaderry, Mahoonagh, Monagay, Mountcollins, Mountplummer, Newcastle Rural, Newcastle Urban, Port, Rathronan, Rooskagh and Templeglentan 6

Councillors

The council has 40 seats.

Seats summary
Party Seats
2019 election
Fine Gael 14
Fianna Fáil 12
Labour 3
Green 2
Sinn Féin 2
Social Democrats 1
Independent 6

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 24 May 2019.[14]

Council members from 2019 election
Local electoral area Name Party
Adare–Rathkeale Adam Teskey Fine Gael
Stephen Keary Fine Gael
Richard O'Donoghue[lower-alpha 1] Independent
Emmett O'Brien Independent
Kevin Sheahan Fianna Fáil
Bridie Collins Fianna Fáil
Cappamore–Kilmallock Brigid Teefy Independent
Martin Ryan Fianna Fáil
Eddie Ryan[lower-alpha 2] Fianna Fáil
Gerald Mitchell Fine Gael
John Egan Fine Gael
Michael Donegan Fianna Fáil
P.J. Carey[lower-alpha 2] Independent
Newcastle West Jerome Scanlan[lower-alpha 2] Fine Gael
Michael Collins Fianna Fáil
Liam Galvin Fine Gael
John Sheahan Fine Gael
Tom Ruddle Fine Gael
Francis Foley Fianna Fáil
Limerick City East Seán Hartigan Green
Elena Secas Labour
Catherine Slattery Fianna Fáil
Michael Murphy Fine Gael
Michael Sheahan Fine Gael
Jerry O'Dea[lower-alpha 1] Fianna Fáil
Sarah Kiely Fine Gael
Limerick City North Frankie Daly Independent
Brian Leddin[lower-alpha 1] Green
Kieran O'Hanlon Fianna Fáil
Olivia O'Sullivan Fine Gael
John Costelloe Sinn Féin
Conor Sheehan Labour
Sharon Benson Sinn Féin
Limerick City West James Collins Fianna Fáil
Daniel Butler Fine Gael
Joe Leddin Labour
Fergus Kilcoyne Independent
Abul Kalam Azad Talukder Fianna Fáil
Dan McSweeney Fine Gael
Elisa O'Donovan[lower-alpha 2] Social Democrats
Notes
  1. Replaced during term, see table below for details.
  2. Changed party, see table below for details.

Co-options
Party Outgoing Electoral area Reason Date Co-optee
Green Brian Leddin Limerick City North Elected as a TD for Limerick City at the 2020 general election February 2020 Saša Novak Uí Chonchúir
Independent Richard O'Donoghue Adare–Rathkeale Elected as a TD for Limerick County at the 2020 general election February 2020 John O'Donoghue
Fianna Fáil Jerry O'Dea Limerick City East Death of councillor July 2022 Joe Pond

Changes in affiliation
Name Electoral area Elected as New affiliation Date
Jerome Scanlan Newcastle West Fine Gael Independent November 2019
Eddie Ryan Cappamore–Kilmallock Fianna Fáil Independent June 2020
Elisa O'Donovan Limerick City West Social Democrats Independent June 2020
Elisa O'Donovan Limerick City West Independent Social Democrats December 2021
P.J. Carey Cappamore–Kilmallock Independent Sinn Féin January 2022

References
  1. "Local authorities". Citizens Information Board. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  2. Local Government Act 2019 (No. 1 of 2019). Enacted on 25 January 2019. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 March 2019.
  3. "Result of the Direct Election of Mayor Plebiscite for Limerick City and County". Limerick City and County Council. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  4. "Plans for a directly elected mayor with executive functions for Limerick City and County". Government of Ireland. 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  5. "Covid-19 logjam delays Limerick mayor election until next year". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  6. "Bureaucrats must not torpedo powers of Limerick elected mayor". Limerick Post. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  7. "Directly elected Mayor of Limerick will have 'real power'". Irish Examiner. 10 January 2022.
  8. "Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023". Oireachtas. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  9. "Minister O'Donnell Welcomes Publication of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill" (Press release). Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 3 August 2023.
  10. Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014, Article 5 and Schedule 3 (S.I. No. 573 of 2014). Signed on 16 December 2014. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 April 2023.
  11. City and County of Limerick Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 624 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 5 September 2020.
  12. Local Government Reform Act 2014, s. 19: Municipal districts (No. 1 of 2014, s. 19). Enacted on 27 January 2014. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 5 September 2020.
  13. County Borough of Limerick (Wards) Regulations 1970 (S.I. No. 279 of 1970). Signed on 25 November 1970. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 5 September 2020.
  14. "Local Elections 2019: Results, Transfer of Votes and Statistics" (PDF). Government of Ireland. pp. 48–58. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
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