Limerick City & County Council has 40 seats to fill
Limerick City and County Council is the local authority of Limerick City and County. It came into operation on 1 June, 2014 after the 2014 local elections. It was formed by the merger of Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council under the provisions of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, with 40 seats to be filled, with the 7 councillors in the Cappamore - Kilmallock LEA of most interst to us here in The Avondhu, as well as the historic directly elected Limerick City and County Mayor, which will also be decided by your votes on Friday, June 7th, so 3 ballot papers for the lucky Limerick electorate!
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 head of the council has the title of Mayor, currently Cllr Gerald Mitchell, who is not seeking re-election in the Cappamore - Kilmallock LEA on June 7th. We wish him well and thank him for his courteous interactions with TheAvondhu and his commitment to his community over the years as a councillor.
The city and county administration is headed by a chief executive, Pat Daly. The administrative centre is City Hall, Limerick. Following a referendum yes vote in 2019, when Cork city and Waterford said no, Limerick is due to become the first local authority in Ireland with a directly elected mayor, as mentioned above, following voting on June 7th. (See separate article on the role envisaged for the newly elected mayor)
The other MDs / LEAs and their representation in seats are: Limerick City East 7, Limerick City North 7, Limerick City West 7, Adare - Rathkeale 6, Newcastle West 6.
Limerick City and
County Council plans to spend €943m locally in 2024, with CE, Dr Pat Daly. Adopted each November, the council budget is in place to fund frontline local services such as the maintenance of roads, the repair of street lights, the promotion of businesses, street-cleaning and litter collection among other things, an increase in spend of €37m year-onyear.
The 2022 Census returns recorded a population of 209,536 in Limerick, 102,287 of these in the city. It also declared there were 85,363 houses in the county. The council staff is c.1,500.
Prior to 2014, Limerick County Council was the authority responsible for local government in County Limerick and latterly it was governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council had 28 elected members. The head of the council had the title of cathaoirleach (chairperson).
It was originally based at Limerick Courthouse and then moved to County Buildings in O’Connell Street in two stages; Nos. 82 and 83 were acquired in 1911 and Nos. 80 and 81 in 1966. The county council then moved to County Hall, Dooradoyle in 2003. Limerick County Council was also responsible for a large proportion of Limerick city’s suburbs. The remaining areas of Limerick city were under the authority of Limerick City Council.
For the purpose of elections the county then was divided into five local electoral areas: Adare (7), Castleconnell (7), Kilmallock (5), Newcastle West (5) and Rathkeale (4).
The Cappamore - Kilmallock LEA area is as follows: 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, Kilbehenny, Kilfinane, Kilflyn, Kilglass, Kilmallock, Kilmurry, Kilteely, Knockainey, Knocklong, Knocknascrow, Oola, Particles, Riversdale, Rockhill, Templebredon, Tobernea and Uregare.