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Local electoral area

{{Short description|District of local elections in Ireland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2021}}

File:Map of 2019 Dublin city council election.svg divided into its eleven local electoral areas, with dots symbolising members of Dublin City Council for each LEA]]

File:Clane Electoral Area June 2009.png, shown divided into its electoral divisions (EDs).]]

A local electoral area (LEA; {{langx|ga|toghlimistéar áitiúil}}){{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.ie/ga/preasraitis/0b7d8-fograionn-an-taire-slainte-stephen-donnelly-td-eolas-aitiuil-nua-ata-ag-dul-beo-ar-mhol-sonrai-covid-19/|title=Fógraíonn an tAire Sláinte Stephen Donnelly TD eolas áitiúil nua atá ag dul beo ar Mhol Sonraí COVID-19|website=www.gov.ie|date=19 September 2020 |access-date=2021-02-16|archive-date=2021-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116224217/https://www.gov.ie/ga/preasraitis/0b7d8-fograionn-an-taire-slainte-stephen-donnelly-td-eolas-aitiuil-nua-ata-ag-dul-beo-ar-mhol-sonrai-covid-19/|url-status=live}} is an electoral area for elections to local authorities in Ireland. All elections use the single transferable vote. Ireland is divided into 166 LEAs, with an average population of 28,700 and average area of {{Convert|423.3|km2}}. The boundaries of LEAs are determined by order of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, usually based on lower-level units called electoral divisions (EDs), with a total of 3,440 EDs in the state.

As well as their use for electoral purposes, LEAs are local administrative units in Eurostat NUTS classification.{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/nuts/national-structures|title=Correspondence between the NUTS levels and the national administrative units|date=11 June 2020|access-date=14 January 2022|website=Eurostat|archive-date=14 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114114347/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/nuts/national-structures|url-status=live}} They are used in local numbers of cases of COVID-19.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/356d2-minister-for-health-stephen-donnelly-td-announces-new-local-information-going-live-on-the-covid-19-data-hub/|title=Minister Donnelly announces new local information going live on the COVID-19 Data Hub|website=www.gov.ie|date=19 September 2020 |access-date=2021-02-16|archive-date=2021-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220230508/https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/356d2-minister-for-health-stephen-donnelly-td-announces-new-local-information-going-live-on-the-covid-19-data-hub/|url-status=live}}

Municipal districts

A municipal district ({{Langx|ga|ceantar bardasach}}){{Cite web |url=https://www.wicklow.ie/Portals/0/Documents/Municipal%20Districts/Wicklow/District-Information/Minutes-Agendas/Agenda%20for%20Wicklow%20MD%20Meeting%2019-10-15.pdf |title=Agenda |date=19 October 2015 |author=Wicklow Municipal District |website=Wicklow County Council |access-date=2021-02-16 |archive-date=2019-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525155655/https://www.wicklow.ie/Portals/0/Documents/Municipal%20Districts/Wicklow/District-Information/Minutes-Agendas/Agenda%20for%20Wicklow%20MD%20Meeting%2019-10-15.pdf |url-status=live }} is a division of a local authority which can exercise certain powers of the local authority. They came into being on 1 June 2014, ten days after the local elections, under the provisions of the Local Government Reform Act 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/reform/local-government-reform|title=Local Government Reform|publisher=Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government|access-date=28 January 2014|archive-date=19 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019154407/http://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/reform/local-government-reform|url-status=live}}{{cite Irish legislation|name=Local Government Reform Act 2014 (2014 Establishment Day) Order 2014|year=2014|type=si|number=215|date=22 May 2014}} Of the 31 local authorities, 25 are subdivided into municipal districts, which comprise one or more LEA. The exceptions are the three city councils (Cork City, Dublin City and Galway City) and the three county councils in Dublin (Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin). A district associated with a city or borough is termed a metropolitan district (ceantar cathrach) or borough district (ceantar buirge) respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2014/act/1/section/19/revised/en/html|title=Revised Acts|website=revisedacts.lawreform.ie|access-date=2021-02-16|archive-date=2021-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829140845/https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2014/act/1/section/19/revised/en/html|url-status=live}}

In 2019, John Paul Phelan, Minister of State for Local Government and Electoral Reform, commented in the Dáil:{{cite web |last1=Phelan |first1=John Paul |author-link1=John Paul Phelan |title=Local Government Bill 2018: From the Seanad |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2019-01-23/speech/320/ |website=Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) debates |publisher=Oireachtas |access-date=3 June 2019 |language=en-ie |date=23 January 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212130708/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2019-01-23/26/ |url-status=live }}

{{blockquote|Municipal districts have an extensive list of functions currently, but the situation is haphazard ... some local authorities are better at performing some functions than others. I have found that some local authorities have a strong municipal district structure, with the districts being where most of the nitty-gritty work of local authorities is done, be it roads, footpaths or lights. Some do not have that structure, though, with decisions rehashed or debated again at the councils' plenary sessions.}}

Boundary changes

{{anchor|Boundary Committee}}

Boundaries for local electoral areas and municipal district are determined by statutory instrument of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.{{cite Irish legislation|name=Local Government Reform Act 2014|year=2014|number=1|date=27 January 2014|section=19|stitle=Municipal districts}} The Minister must first request the Electoral Commission to prepare a report. The minister must have regard to this report in making any changes.{{Cite Irish legislation|title=Electoral Reform Act 2022|year=2022|number=30|section=60|stitle=Local electoral area boundary review functions|date=25 July 2022}}

Prior to the establishment of the Electoral Commission in 2023, recommendations on local electoral boundary changes were made by an independent boundary committee established for that purpose.{{cite web |author1=Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage |title=General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill 2020 |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/34cf6-general-scheme-of-the-electoral-reform-bill-2020/ |pages=57–59 |publisher=Government of Ireland |access-date=11 January 2021 |language=en |date=8 January 2021 |archive-date=9 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109073455/https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/34cf6-general-scheme-of-the-electoral-reform-bill-2020/ |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |last1=O'Halloran |first1=Marie |title=Election regulator on horizon as Government approves proposals |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/election-regulator-on-horizon-as-government-approves-proposals-1.4126828 |access-date=11 January 2021 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=30 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120205144/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/election-regulator-on-horizon-as-government-approves-proposals-1.4126828 |url-status=live }} A boundary committee has been required since 1994 for electoral areas.{{cite Irish legislation|name=Local Government Act 1994 |year=1994|number=8|access-date=27 January 2014|section=24|stitle=Local electoral areas|date=29 April 1994}}{{cite book|title=Report 2013 |url=http://www.boundarycommittee.ie/reports/2013-Report.pdf#page=15 |author=Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee |date=30 May 2013 |publisher=Stationery Office |pages=13–14 |isbn=978-1-4064-2767-7 |access-date=29 April 2015 |location=Dublin |format=PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305083921/http://www.boundarycommittee.ie/reports/2013-Report.pdf#page=15 |archive-date=5 March 2016 }} The 2012–13 Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee considered both administrative areas (municipal districts, though not counties/cities) and electoral areas. In 2015, separate committees were set up to consider adjustments to county and municipal boundaries passing through each of four urban areas: Athlone, Carlow, Drogheda, and Waterford.{{cite web|url=https://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/reform/boundaries/minister-alan-kelly-appoints-groups-review-local-government|title=Minister Alan Kelly Appoints Groups to Review Local Government Boundaries in Drogheda/Athlone/Waterford/Carlow|date=19 June 2015|work=News|publisher=Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government|access-date=28 January 2019|archive-date=5 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705062912/https://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/reform/boundaries/minister-alan-kelly-appoints-groups-review-local-government|url-status=live}} A Boundary Committee established in 2017 and which reported in June 2018 recommended alterations to municipal districts and local electoral areas which were implemented in December 2018.

Current LEAs

Below are the districts and local electoral areas as defined by the most recent SI in each case and which were used at the 2019 local elections. The minister ultimately did not alter the areas for the 2024 local elections.{{cite web |title=Local Elections – Questions (267) |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2023-02-28/267/ |website=Oireachtas |access-date=18 June 2023 |date=28 February 2023}} Unless otherwise specified, districts are titled "Municipal District of Carlow", etc.

class="wikitable"
Council

! Seats

! District

! Local electoral area (LEA)

! Seats

rowspan=3|Carlow County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Carlow Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=610|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=3| 18

|colspan=2|Carlow

|7

colspan=2|Muinebeag

|5

colspan=2|Tullow

|6

rowspan=3|Cavan County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Cavan Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=611|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=3|18

|colspan=2|Bailieborough—Cootehill

|6

colspan=2|Ballyjamesduff

|6

colspan=2|Cavan–Belturbet

| 6

rowspan=5|Clare County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Clare Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=612|date=19 December 2018}}

| rowspan=5| 28

|colspan=2|Ennis

|7

colspan=2|Killaloe

|5

colspan=2|Shannon

|7

rowspan=2|West Clare

|Ennistymon

|4

Kilrush

|5

rowspan=5|Cork City Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=City of Cork Local Electoral Areas Order 2019|year=2019|type=si|number=27|date=31 January 2019}}

|rowspan=5|31

|rowspan=5 style="background-color: #A9A9A9"|

|Cork City North-East

6
Cork City North-West6
Cork City South-Central6
Cork City South-East6
Cork City South-West7
rowspan=10|Cork County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County Of Cork Local Electoral Areas And Municipal Districts Order 2019|year=2019|type=si|number=28|date=31 January 2019}}

|rowspan=10|55

|colspan=2|Bandon—Kinsale

6
colspan=2|Carrigaline6
colspan=2|Cobh6
East CorkMidleton7
colspan=2|Fermoy6
rowspan=2|Kanturk—MallowKanturk4
Mallow5
colspan=2|Macroom6
rowspan=2|West CorkBantry—West Cork4
Skibbereen—West Cork5
rowspan=7|Donegal County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Donegal Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=613|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=7|37

|colspan=2|Donegal

|6

colspan=2|Glenties

|6

rowspan=2|Inishowen

|Buncrana

|5

Carndonagh

|4

rowspan=2|Letterkenny—Milford

|Letterkenny

|7

Milford

|3

colspan=2|Lifford—Stranorlar

|6

rowspan=11|Dublin City Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=City of Dublin Local Electoral Areas Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=614|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=11|63

|rowspan=11 style="background-color: #A9A9A9"|

|Artane—Whitehall

|6

Ballyfermot—Drimnagh

|5

Ballymun—Finglas

|6

Cabra—Glasnevin

|7

Clontarf

|6

Donaghmede

|5

Kimmage—Rathmines

|6

North Inner City

|7

Pembroke

|5

South East Inner City

|5

South West Inner City

|5

rowspan=6|Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Local Electoral Areas Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=615|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=6|40

|rowspan=6 style="background-color: #A9A9A9"|

|Blackrock

6
Dundrum7
Dún Laoghaire7
Glencullen—Sandyford7
Killiney—Shankill6
Stillorgan6
rowspan=7|Fingal County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Fingal Local Electoral Areas Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=616|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=7|40

|rowspan=7 style="background-color: #A9A9A9"|

| Balbriggan

5
Blanchardstown—Mulhuddart5
Castleknock6
Howth—Malahide7
Ongar5
Rush—Lusk5
Swords7
rowspan=3|Galway City Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=City of Galway Local Electoral Areas Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=617|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=3|18

|rowspan=3 style="background-color: #A9A9A9"|

|Galway City West

6
Galway City Central6
Galway City East6
rowspan=7| Galway County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Galway Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=618|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=7| 39

|Athenry

|Athenry—Oranmore

|7

colspan=2|Ballinasloe

|6

rowspan=2|Conamara

|Conamara North

|4

Conamara South

|5

rowspan=2|Loughrea

|Gort—Kinvara

|5

Loughrea

|5

colspan=2|Tuam

|7

rowspan=6| Kerry County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Kerry Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=619|date=19 December 2018}}

| rowspan=6|33

|rowspan=2|An Daingean—Castleisland

|An Daingean

|3

Castleisland

|4

colspan=2|Kenmare

|6

colspan=2|Killarney

|7

colspan=2|Listowel

|6

colspan=2|Tralee

|7

rowspan=8|Kildare County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Kildare Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=620|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=8|40

|colspan=2|Athy

|5

rowspan=2|Celbridge—Leixlip

|Celbridge

|4

Leixlip

|3

rowspan=2|Clane—Maynooth

|Clane

|5

Maynooth

|5

rowspan=2|Kildare—Newbridge

|Kildare

|5

Newbridge

|6

colspan=2|Naas

|7

rowspan=4|Kilkenny County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Kilkenny Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=621|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=4|24

|colspan=2|Callan—Thomastown

|6

colspan=2|Castlecomer

|6

Kilkenny City

|Kilkenny

|7

colspan=2|Piltown

|5

rowspan=3|Laois County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Laois Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=622|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=3|19

|colspan=2|Borris-in-Ossory—Mountmellick

6
colspan=2|Graiguecullen—Portarlington6
colspan=2|Portlaoise7
rowspan=3|Leitrim County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Leitrim Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=623|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=3|18

|colspan=2|Ballinamore

| 6

colspan=2|Carrick-on-Shannon6
colspan=2|Manorhamilton6
rowspan=6|Limerick City and County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=City and County of Limerick Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=624|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=6|40

|rowspan=3|Metropolitan District of Limerick City

Limerick City East7
Limerick City North7
Limerick City West7
colspan=2|Adare—Rathkeale

|6

colspan=2|Cappamore—Kilmallock

|7

colspan=2|Newcastle West

|6

rowspan=3|Longford County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Longgford Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=625|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=3|18

|colspan=2|Ballymahon

|6

colspan=2|Granard

|5

colspan=2|Longford

|7

rowspan=5|Louth County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Louth Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=626|date=19 December 2018}}{{cite Irish legislation|name=County Of Louth Local Electoral Areas And Municipal Districts (Amendment) Order 2019|year=2019|type=si|number=6|date=17 January 2019}}

|rowspan=5|29

|colspan=2|Ardee

6
rowspan=2|Borough District of Drogheda

|Drogheda Rural

4
Drogheda Urban6
rowspan=2|Dundalk

|Dundalk—Carlingford

6
Dundalk South7
rowspan=6|Mayo County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Mayo Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=627|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=6|30

|colspan=2|Ballina

|6

colspan=2|Castlebar

|7

rowspan=2|Claremorris

|Claremorris

|6

Swinford

|4

rowspan=2|Westport—Belmullet

|Westport

|4

Belmullet

|3

rowspan=6|Meath County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Meath Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=628|date=19 December 2018}}{{cite Irish legislation|name=County Of Meath Local Electoral Areas And Municipal Districts (Amendment) Order 2019|year=2019|type=si|number=8|date=17 January 2019}}

|rowspan=6|40

|colspan=2|Ashbourne

|6

colspan=2|Kells7
colspan=2|Laytown—Bettystown7
colspan=2|Navan7
colspan=2|Ratoath7
colspan=2|Trim6
rowspan=3|Monaghan County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Monaghan Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=629|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=3|18

|colspan=2|Ballybay—Clones

5
colspan=2|Carrickmacross—Castleblayney6
colspan=2|Monaghan7
rowspan=3|Offaly County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Offaly Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=630|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=3|19

|colspan=2|Birr

6
colspan=2|Edenderry6
colspan=2|Tullamore7
rowspan=3|Roscommon County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Roscommon Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=631|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=3|18

|colspan=2|Athlone

6
colspan=2|Boyle6
colspan=2|Roscommon6
rowspan=3|Sligo County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Sligo Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=632|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=3|18

|Borough District of Sligo

Sligo—Strandhill6
colspan=2|Ballymote—Tobercurry7
colspan=2|Sligo—Drumcliff7
rowspan=7|South Dublin County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of South Dublin Local Electoral Areas Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=633|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=7|40

|rowspan=7 style="background-color: #A9A9A9"|

|Clondalkin

7
Firhouse—Bohernabreena5
Lucan5
Palmerstown—Fonthill5
Rathfarnham—Templeogue7
Tallaght Central6
Tallaght South5
rowspan=8|Tipperary County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Tipperary Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=634|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=8|40

|Borough District of Clonmel

Clonmel6
rowspan=2|Cahir—CashelCahir4
Cashel—Tipperary7
colspan=2|Carrick-on-Suir5
rowspan=2|NenaghNenagh5
Newport4
rowspan=2|ThurlesThurles5
Roscrea—Templemore4
rowspan=6|Waterford City and County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=City and County of Waterford Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=635|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=6|32

|rowspan=3|Metropolitan District of Waterford City

|Tramore—Waterford City West

6
Waterford City East6
Waterford City South6
ComeraghPortlaw—Kilmacthomas5
rowspan=2|Dungarvan—Lismore

|Dungarvan

6
Lismore3
rowspan=4|Westmeath County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Westmeath Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=636|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=4|20

|rowspan=2|Athlone—Moate

|Athlone

5
Moate4
rowspan=2|Mullingar—Kinnegad

|Mullingar

6
Kinnegad5
rowspan=6|Wexford County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Wexford Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=637|date=19 December 2018}}

|rowspan=6|34

|colspan=2|Enniscorthy

6
rowspan=2|Gorey—KilmuckridgeGorey6
Kilmuckridge4
colspan=2|New Ross6
colspan=2|Rosslare5
Borough District of WexfordWexford7
rowspan=6|Wicklow County Council{{cite Irish legislation|name=County of Wicklow Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018|year=2018|type=si|number=638|date=19 December 2018}}{{cite Irish legislation|name=County Of Wicklow Local Electoral Areas And Municipal Districts (Amendment) Order 2019|year=2019|type=si|number=7|date=17 January 2019}}

|rowspan=6|32

|colspan=2|Arklow

6
colspan=2|Baltinglass6
rowspan=2|BrayBray East4
Bray West4
colspan=2|Greystones6
colspan=2|Wicklow6

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{cite web|url=https://data.gov.ie/dataset/local-electoral-areas-osi-national-statutory-boundaries-2019-generalised-20m1|title=Local Electoral Areas - OSi National Statutory Boundaries - 2019 - Generalised 20m |date=7 July 2022 |access-date=9 June 2023 |website=Open Data Unit |publisher=Government of Ireland}}

{{Local government in the Republic of Ireland|state=collapsed}}

Category:Council elections in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Electoral areas in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Local government in the Republic of Ireland

Ireland

Category:Subdivisions of the Republic of Ireland

Ireland