Local government in Dublin

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Local government in Dublin, the capital city of Ireland, is currently administered through the local authorities of four local government areas (the city of Dublin and the counties of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin). The historical development of these councils dates back to medieval times.

Poor laws[edit]

Under the Poor Relief (Ireland) Act 1838, counties were divided into poor law unions, which were in turn composed of poor law electoral division.

Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840[edit]

The Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840 reduced the number of boroughs in Ireland and reformed the governance of those that remained. Dublin was one of ten boroughs to retain a corporation.

The assembly of Dublin Corporation was Dublin City Council of sixty members. The city was divided into fifteen wards, each ward to have one alderman and three councillors.[1] The wards were revised by order under the Dublin Corporation Act 1849 (12 & 13 Vict., c. 85), and by further Act, the Corporation of Dublin Act 1850 (13 & 14 Vict., c. 50), were designated to correspond to former wards for the purpose of designating aldermen.

1840 Act 1849 Act
Custom House Ward North Dock Ward
Post Office Ward North City Ward
St. Paul's Ward Arran Quay Ward
Four Courts Ward Inn's Quay Ward
Linen Hall Ward Rotunda Ward
St. George's Ward Mountjoy Ward
St. James's Ward Usher's Quay Ward
St. Catherine's Ward Merchant's Quay Ward
St. Andrew's Ward Wood Quay Ward
St. Audeon's Ward South City Ward
Merrion Ward South Dock Ward
College Ward Trinity Ward
Castle Ward Royal Exchange Ward
St. Stephen's Ward Mansion House Ward
St. Patrick's Ward Fitzwilliam Ward

Townships[edit]

Urban areas in county Dublin formed townships governed by town commissioners over the course of the nineteenth century, either under the Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act 1854 or by local acts:

Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898[edit]

The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 reformed local government throughout the country, with first-tier division between administrative counties and county boroughs, and a second-tier division of administrative counties into urban areas and rural areas. The poor law electoral divisions within counties were renamed as district electoral divisions.[7]

The city of Dublin continued as a county borough. Each of the townships in the administrative county of Dublin, with the exception of Balbriggan, became an urban district. The rural areas were Balrothery, Celbridge No. 2, North Dublin, Rathdown, and South Dublin.[8]

1900: expansion of city[edit]

In reorganisation shortly after the implementation of the 1898 Act, the urban districts of Clontarf, of Drumcondra, Clonliffe and Glasnevin, and of New Kilmainham were incorporated into the city. The added area became the wards of Clontarf East, Clontarf West, Drumcondra, Glasnevin, and New Kilmainham, each elected one alderman and three councillors (with a further portion added to the South Dock Ward). This was an expansion of the number of members of the City Council from sixty to eighty.[9] An election was held for the new wards in January 1901.

Establishment of Howth[edit]

Howth became an urban district in 1919, having formerly been within the rural district of North Dublin.

Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919[edit]

The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919 introduced the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote to Irish local elections. This ended the use of wards in the city and district electoral divisions in the county as electoral areas. However, they continued to be used and defined as fundamental geographical units, both to define the borough electoral areas and county electoral areas, and as census tracts.

Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930[edit]

The administration of both the city and the county of Dublin was altered by the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930:

The register of commercial electors was provided by separate legislation.[15] These five seats were abolished in 1935 and redistributed as geographical seats.[16]

1940s: expansion of city[edit]

In 1942, Howth was transferred from the county to the city.[17][18]

In 1945, the city council was increased from 35 to 45 members.[19]

1985: organisation into electoral counties[edit]

Under Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985, territory was transferred from the county to the city (including Santry and Phoenix Park), and from the city to the county (including Howth, Sutton and parts of Kilbarrack including Bayside).[20]

Dublin City Council was increased from 45 to 52 members.[21]

County Dublin was divided into three electoral counties, each with its own council: Dublin–Fingal (24 members), Dublin–Belgard (26 members), and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown (28 members).[22][23] Elections were to be administered through these electoral counties, rather than to the County Council or the Borough Council of Dún Laoghaire. At the 1985 election, the County Council would consist of 78 members, being the total number of members from the three electoral counties. This was an increase from 36 at the 1979 election.[24] Areas of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown were to be designated as relevant electoral areas, whose members would also sit as members of Corporation of Dún Laoghaire.[25]

At the 1991 local election, the electoral counties of Dublin–Belgard and Dublin–Fingal were renamed as South Dublin and Fingal respectively.[26]

1994: Division of County Dublin[edit]

Under the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993, County Dublin and the borough of Dún Laoghaire were abolished. The county was succeeded by the three new counties of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Fingal, and South Dublin, corresponding, with minor boundary changes, with the electoral counties. This took effect on 1 January 1994.

21st century[edit]

The Local Government Act 2001, which came into effect in 2002, altered the nomenclature of local government areas throughout the state. The county boroughs were renamed as cities, while administrative counties were to be described simply as counties. Dublin Corporation became Dublin City Council, previously the name for the assembly alone. The town commissioners of Balbriggan became a town council.

Under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, local government in Ireland was reduced to a single tier. In Dublin, that meant the abolition of Balbriggan Town Council. There was an adjustment to the number of seats for each local authority, which saw an increase for all four of the Dublin authorities. Dublin City Council was increased to 63, while the councils of each of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Fingal, and South Dublin were each increased to 40.[27]

The 2014 Act allowed for a plebiscite to be held to on whether there should be a directly elected mayor for Dublin city and county. However, it required the approval of the councils of the counties and the city. It was rejected by Fingal County Council, but supported by each of the three other Dublin councils.[28]

Regional administration[edit]

Eight Regional Authorities were established in Ireland in 1994. This included the Dublin Regional Authority, and comprised 14 representatives of the corporation of the county borough of Dublin, and five each from the councils of the administrative counties of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin.[29]

In 2014, the regional authorities were abolished, and their administration transferred to Regional Assemblies. From 1 January 2015, these councils were part of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly; this included 7 representatives of the council of the city of Dublin, and three each from the councils of the counties of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin (as well as other counties in the region). These four form the Dublin strategic planning area within the region.[30]

Proposed reform[edit]

There was a Dublin citizens assembly in 2022 to consider reform of local government, including a directly elected mayor.[31]

Definitions of wards and DEDs[edit]

Under the Electoral Act 1963, the Minister for Local Government had the authority to divide a county borough into wards and a county into district electoral districts, with previous divisions remaining in place prior to the first such order.[32][33] Wards and DEDs were used to define components of electoral geography (local electoral areas and Dáil constituencies) and as census tracts. From 1996, they were both renamed as electoral divisions.[34]

Definitions of wards[edit]

  • 15 April 1971: Revised wards in the county borough of Dublin[35]
  • 12 April 1986: Revised wards in the county borough of Dublin[36]
    • 29 April 1994: Amendments to wards to account for alterations to county boundary[37]
    • 15 February 1997: Cherry Orchard B renamed as Carna[38]

Definitions of district electoral divisions[edit]

  • 15 April 1971: Revised district electoral divisions in the County Dublin[39]
  • 12 April 1986: Revised district electoral divisions in the County Dublin[40]
    • 24 March 1986: minor correction[41]
    • 29 April 1994: amendment following establishment of new counties[42]

References, citations and sources[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840 (3 & 4 Victoria, c. 108), Schedule C. pp. 658–662. ISBN 9780331531558.
  2. ^ "Blackrock Township Act 1863". legislation.gov.uk. 13 July 1863. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Index to the Archive of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council: Introduction, and LA1: Blackrock Township and Urban District Council" (PDF). Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council.
  4. ^ "Clontarf Township Act 1863". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. 12 July 1869. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Drumcondra, Clonliffe and Glasnevin Township Act 1878, [41 & 42 Vict., Ch. clvii.]". vlex. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Rathmines Improvement Act 1847". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  7. ^ Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, s. 22: County districts and district councils (61 & 62 Vict., c. 37 of 1898, s. 22). Enacted on 12 August 1898. Act of the UK Parliament. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 19 November 2022.
  8. ^ Clancy, John Joseph (1899). A handbook of local government in Ireland: containing an explanatory introduction to the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898: together with the text of the act, the orders in Council, and the rules made thereunder relating to county council, rural district council, and guardian's elections: with an index. Dublin: Sealy, Bryers and Walker. p. 427.
  9. ^ Dublin Corporation Act 1900, s. 40
  10. ^ Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930, s. 2: Inclusion of certain urban districts in the city (No. 27 of 1930, s. 2). Enacted on 17 July 1930. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  11. ^ Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930, s. 3: Formation of the Borough of Dun Laoghaire (No. 27 of 1930, s. 3). Enacted on 17 July 1930. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  12. ^ Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930, s. 17: Inclusion of certain rural areas in the City (No. 27 of 1930, s. 17). Enacted on 17 July 1930. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.; Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930, 1st Sch.: Added rural area (No. 27 of 1930, 1st Sch.). Enacted on 17 July 1930. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  13. ^ Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930, s. 82: Abolition of rural district councils in the County (No. 27 of 1930, s. 82). Enacted on 17 July 1930. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  14. ^ Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930, s. 31: Constitution of the City Council (No. 27 of 1930, s. 31). Enacted on 17 July 1930. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  15. ^ Electoral (Dublin Commercial) Act 1930 (No. 28 of 1930). Enacted on 17 July 1930. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  16. ^ Local Government (Dublin) Act 1935 (No. 10 of 1935). Enacted on 29 March 1935. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  17. ^ Local Government (Dublin) (Amendment) Act 1940 (No. 21 of 1940). Act of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 4 December 2014.
  18. ^ Local Government (Dublin) (Amendment) Act 1940 (Appointed Day) Order 1942 (S.I. No. 372 of 1942). Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 4 December 2014.
  19. ^ Local Government (Dublin) Act 1945, s. 2: Increase of number of members of the city council (No. 8 of 1945, s. 2). Enacted on 20 March 1945. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  20. ^ Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985, s. 10: Alteration of boundaries of Dublin City and County (No. 7 of 1985, s. 10). Enacted on 3 April 1985. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 August 2021.; Local Government (Reorganisation) Act (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 1985 (S.I. No. 129 of 1985). Signed on 8 May 1985. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 August 2021.
  21. ^ Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985, s. 11: Increase in membership of Dublin City Council (No. 7 of 1985, s. 11). Enacted on 3 April 1985. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  22. ^ Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985, s. 12: Establishment of Dublin Electoral Counties (No. 7 of 1985, s. 12). Enacted on 3 April 1985. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 9 December 2021.
  23. ^ Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985, s. 13: Establishment, membership and election of councils of established electoral counties (No. 7 of 1985, s. 13). Enacted on 3 April 1985. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 9 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Local elections, 1979: election results and transfer of votes in respect of each county, and county borough council : and election statistics relating to all local authorities" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. Dublin Stationery Office. October 1980. p. 221. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  25. ^ Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985, s. 16: Continuation of Dublin County Council and Dún Laoghaire Corporation (No. 7 of 1985, s. 16). Enacted on 3 April 1985. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 9 December 2021.
  26. ^ Local Government Act 1991, s. 26: Amendment of Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985 (No. 11 of 1991, s. 26). Enacted on 18 May 1991. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 9 December 2021.
  27. ^ Local Government Reform Act 2014, s. 15: Number of members of local authorities (No. 1 of 2014, s. 15). Enacted on 27 January 2014. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 19 November 2022.
  28. ^ Kelly, Olivia (1 April 2014). "Fingal blocks vote on Dublin directly elected mayor". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  29. ^ Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order 1993 (S.I. No. 394 of 1993). Signed on 20 December 1993. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 25 February 2022.
  30. ^ Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 573 of 2014). Signed on 16 December 2014. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 19 January 2022.
  31. ^ O'Sullivan, Colman (1 October 2022). "Citizens' Assembly votes on Dublin mayor role, powers". RTÉ News. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  32. ^ Electoral Act 1963, s. 88: Wards (No. 19 of 1963, s. 88). Enacted on 12 July 1963. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  33. ^ Electoral Act 1963, s. 89: District electoral divisions (No. 19 of 1963, s. 89). Enacted on 12 July 1963. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  34. ^ Local Government Act 1994, s. 63: Electoral divisions (No. 8 of 1994, s. 63). Enacted on 29 April 1994. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  35. ^ County Borough of Dublin (Wards) Regulations 1970 (S.I. No. 269 of 1970). Signed on 20 November 1970 by Robert Molloy, Minister for Local Government. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  36. ^ County Borough of Dublin (Wards) Regulations 1986 (S.I. No. 12 of 1986). Signed on 20 January 1986 by Liam Kavanagh, Minister for the Environment. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  37. ^ County Borough of Dublin (Wards) (Amendment) Regulations 1994 (S.I. No. 109 of 1994). Signed on 20 January 1986 by Michael Smith, Minister for the Environment. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  38. ^ County Borough of Dublin (Wards) (Amendment) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 43 of 1997). Signed on 21 January 1997 by Brendan Howlin, Minister for the Environment. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  39. ^ Dublin County (District Electoral Divisions) Regulations 1971 (S.I. No. 17 of 1971). Signed on 25 January 1971 by Robert Molloy, Minister for Local Government. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  40. ^ Dublin County (District Electoral Divisions) Regulations 1986 (S.I. No. 13 of 1986). Signed on 20 January 1986 by Liam Kavanagh, Minister for the Environment. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  41. ^ Dublin County (District Electoral Divisions) (Amendment) Regulations 1986 (S.I. No. 69 of 1986). Signed on 24 March 1986 by John Boland, Minister for the Environment. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  42. ^ Dublin County (District Electoral Divisions) (Amendment) Regulations 1994 (S.I. No. 106 of 1994). Signed on 29 April 1994 by Michael Smith, Minister for the Environment. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.

Further reading[edit]

  • Dudley Edwards, R. (March 1938). "The Beginnings of Municipal Government in Dublin". Dublin Historical Record. 1 (1). Old Dublin Society: 2–10. JSTOR 30080028.
  • O'Connor, Tom (Autumn 1993). "Reform of Local Government". Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review. 82 (327). Messenger Publications: 323–332. JSTOR 30091010.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Local_government_in_Dublin&oldid=1188433094"