Dublin City Council

Dublin City Council (Irish: Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath) is the authority responsible for local government in the city of Dublin in Ireland. As a city council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. Until 2001, the council was known as "Dublin Corporation". The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture and environment. The council has 63 elected members and is the largest local council in Ireland. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the honorific title of Lord Mayor. The city administration is headed by a Chief Executive, Owen Keegan. The council meets at City Hall, Dublin.

Dublin City Council

Comhairle Cathrach
Bhaile Átha Cliath
Type
Type
Leadership
Structure
Seats63
Political groups
Elections
Last election
24 May 2019
Motto
Obedientia Civium Urbis Felicitas  (Latin)
"The Obedience of the citizens produces a happy city"
Meeting place
City Hall, Dublin
Website
dublincity.ie

Local government in Dublin is regulated by the Local Government Act 1994. This provided for the renaming of the old Dublin Corporation to its present title of Dublin City Council, as well as dividing the neighbouring Dublin County Council into the three council areas of Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. These four councils collectively comprise County Dublin, also known as the Dublin Region.

All of Dublin's councils, except Fingal, supported the introduction of a new executive mayor of a combined Dublin authority in 2013, and a Citizen's Assembly will be established during 2019 in order to establish what a combined Dublin Mayorship would look like, with a plebiscite expected to take place sometime in 2020.

Dublin lies within the Eastern & Midland Regional Authority, one of three such regions in the state.

Statutory functions

The functions of the City Council include: Public Housing, Library Services, Refuse Services, Drainage, Driver and Vehicle Licensing, Planning and Roads. The Council budgeted to spend €847,137,522 during 2007 in service of these functions. 50.5% of this went towards the payroll of the Council's staff which was a reduction from 50.7% in 2006. In the case of Traffic Management, the Council receives grants from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and also the National Roads Authority to assist it in meeting this responsibility. The 2007 roads budget was just over €105,000,000, to support maintenance of all roads in its functional area.

History
The area governed by the council

Prior to 1841, the administrative and governmental system of Dublin, known as Dublin Corporation, was bicameral having an assembly of called the "House of Aldermen" and another called the "House of Sheriffs and Commons". Under the Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840, they were replaced by a unicameral assembly. The new name Dublin City Council was coined for the unicameral assembly. The Lord Mayor of Dublin presided over the assembly. This office which had existed since 1665. The first City Council was elected in October 1841 when Daniel O'Connell became the first Lord Mayor. Since 1 January 2002, the functions of local government have been transferred to Dublin City Council.[1] In 1994, Dublin County Council and the Corporation of Dún Laoghaire were abolished[2] but this had no impact on the city council. To coincide with its name change, the City Council adopted a new logo and brand identity, based on a simplified version of the ancient "three castles" symbol.

Dublin City Council's simplified "three castles" logo beside the Royal Canal in Phibsborough.

Structures

Executive power is shared between the council and an appointed executive official known as the Chief Executive. The chief executive is responsible for a staff of 6,200. The offices of the chief executive and other administrative staff are based in the Civic Offices on Wood Quay. The Lord Mayor of Dublin acts as chair of the Council is the ceremonial head of the city government.

Representative power is vested in the city assembly which consists of 63 members. Members are elected using proportional representation by means of the Single transferable vote, every five years from Dublin City Council local electoral areas. The City Council meets in plenary session on the first Monday of every month in Dublin City Hall. One of the Council's most important roles is that of passing an annual budget. Should any Irish council fail to pass a budget within the allotted time, the Minister for the Environment is empowered to abolish it and grant its powers to a commissioner until the next scheduled council elections.

Local Electoral Areas

Dublin City Council has 63 seats, which is divided into the following local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions.[3]

LEA Definition Seats
Artane–Whitehall Beaumont A, Beaumont B, Beaumont C, Harmonstown A, Kilmore A, Kilmore B, Kilmore C, Kilmore D, Priorswood A, Priorswood B, Priorswood C, Priorswood D, Priorswood E, Whitehall A, Whitehall B, Whitehall C and Whitehall D. 6
Ballyfermot–Drimnagh Carna, Chapelizod, Cherry Orchard A, Cherry Orchard C, Crumlin A, Crumlin E, Crumlin F, Decies, Drumfinn, Inchicore A, Inchicore B, Kilmainham A, Kylemore, Walkinstown A, Walkinstown B and Walkinstown C. 5
Ballymun–Finglas Ballygall A, Ballygall B, Ballygall C, Ballygall D, Ballymun A, Ballymun B, Ballymun C, Ballymun D, Ballymun E, Ballymun F, Finglas North A, Finglas North B, Finglas North C, Finglas South A, Finglas South B, Finglas South C and Finglas South D. 6
Cabra–Glasnevin Arran Quay A, Ashtown A, Ashtown B, Botanic A, Botanic B, Botanic C, Cabra East A, Cabra East B, Cabra East C, Cabra West A, Cabra West B, Cabra West C, Cabra West D, Drumcondra South C, Inns Quay A and Inns Quay B; and that part of the electoral division of Phoenix Park not contained in the local electoral area of South West Inner City. 7
Clontarf Beaumont D, Beaumont E, Beaumont F, Clontarf East A, Clontarf East B, Clontarf East C, Clontarf East D, Clontarf East E, Clontarf West A, Clontarf West B, Clontarf West C, Clontarf West D, Clontarf West E, Drumcondra South A, Grace Park and Harmonstown B. 6
Donaghmede Ayrfield, Edenmore, Grange A, Grange B, Grange C, Grange D, Grange E, Raheny-Foxfield, Raheny-Greendale and Raheny-St. Assam. 5
Kimmage–Rathmines Crumlin B, Crumlin C, Crumlin D, Kimmage A, Kimmage B, Kimmage C, Kimmage D, Kimmage E, Rathfarnham, Rathmines West A, Rathmines West C, Rathmines West D, Rathmines West E, Rathmines West F, Terenure A, Terenure B, Terenure C and Terenure D. 6
North Inner City Arran Quay B, Arran Quay C, Arran Quay D, Arran Quay E, Ballybough A, Ballybough B, Drumcondra South B, Inns Quay C, Mountjoy A, Mountjoy B, North City, North Dock A, North Dock B, North Dock C, Rotunda A and Rotunda B. 7
Pembroke Pembroke East B, Pembroke East C, Pembroke East D, Pembroke East E, Pembroke West B, Pembroke West C, Rathmines East A, Rathmines East B, Rathmines East C, Rathmines East D and Rathmines West B. 5
South East Inner City Mansion House A, Mansion House B, Pembroke East A, Pembroke West A, Royal Exchange A, Royal Exchange B, St. Kevin's, South Dock, Wood Quay A and Wood Quay B. 5
South West Inner City Kilmainham B, Kilmainham C, Merchants Quay A, Merchants Quay B, Merchants Quay C, Merchants Quay D, Merchants Quay E, Merchants Quay F, Ushers A, Ushers B, Ushers C, Ushers D, Ushers E and Ushers F; and that part of the electoral division of Phoenix Park situated south of a line drawn along Chapelizod Road, Conyngham Road and Parkgate Street. 5

Current councillors
Mansion House.
Official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

The following were elected at the 2019 Dublin City Council election, under the boundaries which existed at the time. The council has 63 seats.

2019 seats summary
Party Seats
Fianna Fáil 11
Green Party 10
Fine Gael 9
Sinn Féin 8
Labour Party 8
Social Democrats 5
Solidarity–PBP 2
Inds. 4 Change 1
Independent 9[lower-alpha 1]

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 24 May 2019.[4]

Council members from 2019 election
Local electoral area Name Party
Artane-Whitehall Patricia Roe Social Democrats
Larry O'Toole Sinn Féin
Racheal Batten Fianna Fáil
Alison Gilliland Labour
Declan Flanagan Fine Gael
John Lyons[lower-alpha 1] Independent
Ballyfermot-Drimnagh Dathí Doolan Sinn Féin
Hazel de Nortúin Solidarity–PBP
Vincent Jackson Independent
Sophie Nicoullaud[lower-alpha 2] Green
Daithí de Róiste Fianna Fáil
Ballymun-Finglas Paul McAuliffe[lower-alpha 3] Fianna Fáil
Noeleen Reilly Independent
Keith Connolly Fianna Fáil
Mary Callaghan Social Democrats
Caroline Conroy Green
Anthony Connaghan Sinn Féin
Cabra-Glasnevin Mary Fitzpatrick[lower-alpha 3] Fianna Fáil
Neasa Hourigan[lower-alpha 3] Green
Gary Gannon[lower-alpha 3] Social Democrats
Cieran Perry Independent
Seamas McGrattan Sinn Féin
Colm O'Rourke Fine Gael
Marie Sherlock[lower-alpha 3] Labour
Clontarf Damian O'Farrell Independent
Donna Cooney Green
Deirdre Heney Fianna Fáil
Naoise Ó Muirí Fine Gael
Jane Horgan-Jones Labour
Catherine Stocker Social Democrats
Donaghmede Tom Brabazon Fianna Fáil
Daryl Barron Fianna Fáil
Mícheál Mac Donncha Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan Fine Gael
Lawrence Hemmings[lower-alpha 3] Green
Kimmage-Rathmines Patrick Costello[lower-alpha 3] Green
Mary Freehill Labour
Pat Dunne Inds. 4 Change
Anne Feeney Fine Gael
Tara Deacy Social Democrats
Deirdre Conroy Fianna Fáil
North Inner City Ciarán Cuffe[lower-alpha 3] Green
Christy Burke Independent
Joe Costello Labour
Ray McAdam Fine Gael
Nial Ring Independent
Janice Boylan Sinn Féin
Anthony Flynn Independent
Pembroke Hazel Chu Green
James Geoghegan Fine Gael
Dermot Lacey Labour
Paddy McCartan Fine Gael
Claire O'Connor Fianna Fáil
South East Inner City Claire Byrne Green
Chris Andrews[lower-alpha 3] Sinn Féin
Danny Byrne Fine Gael
Kevin Donoghue Labour
Mannix Flynn Independent
South West Inner City Michael Pidgeon Green
Rebecca Moynihan[lower-alpha 3] Labour
Tina MacVeigh Solidarity–PBP
Michael Watters Fianna Fáil
Críona Ní Dhálaigh Sinn Féin
Notes
  1. John Lyons is a member of the unregistered Independent Left party and therefore sits as an independent on the council, and appeared as so on the 2019 ballot paper.
  2. Changed party, see table below for details.
  3. Replaced during term, see table below for details.

Co-options
Party Outgoing Electoral area Reason Date Co-optee
Green Ciarán Cuffe North Inner City Elected to the European Parliament in May 2019 September 2019 Janet Horner
Sinn Féin Chris Andrews South East Inner City Elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2020 general election February 2020 Daniel Ceitinn
Green Patrick Costello Kimmage-Rathmines Elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2020 general election February 2020 Carolyn Moore
Green Neasa Hourigan Cabra-Glasnevin Elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2020 general election February 2020 Darcy Lonergan
Social Democrats Gary Gannon Cabra-Glasnevin Elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2020 general election February 2020 Cat O'Driscoll
Fianna Fáil Paul McAuliffe Ballymun-Finglas Elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2020 general election February 2020 Briege MacOscar
Labour Rebecca Moynihan South West Inner City Elected to Seanad Éireann at the 2020 Seanad election June 2020 Darragh Moriarty
Labour Marie Sherlock Cabra-Glasnevin Elected to Seanad Éireann at the 2020 Seanad election June 2020 Declan Meenagh
Fianna Fáil Mary Fitzpatrick Cabra-Glasnevin Nominated by the Taoiseach to Seanad Éireann. June 2020 Eimer McCormack
Green Lawrence Hemmings Donaghmede Resignation June 2020 Dearbháil Butler
Sinn Féin Críona Ní Dhálaigh South West Inner City Resignation September 2020 Máire Devine

Changes in affiliation
Name Electoral area Elected as New affiliation Date
Sophie Nicoullaud Ballyfermot-Drimnagh Green Independent January 2021

Council buildings
The Civic Offices, Wood Quay
Executive and administrative offices.

The Lord Mayor's official residence is the Mansion House, which first became the residence of the Lord Mayor in 1715.

Council meetings take place in the headquarters at Dublin City Hall. Formerly Royal Exchange, the City Hall is one of Dublin's finest buildings and located on Dame Street. It was built in 1769–79 to the winning design of Thomas Cooley. In an architectural competition, James Gandon was the runner-up with a scheme that many people favoured. The building was taken over for city government use in the 1850s.

References
  1. According to the "Local Government Act, 2001", section 10(2): "The State continues to stand divided into local government areas to be known as counties and cities which are the areas set out in Parts 1 and 2, respectively, of Schedule 5.".
  2. "Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1993, Section 9.—(1)". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  3. "S.I. No. 614/2018 - City of Dublin Local Electoral Areas Order 2018". 19 December 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  4. "Local Election Results Update". Dublin City Council. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
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