Local Elections 2004

by NCCRI/Integrating Ireland Wed Oct 08, 2003 18:09

Local Government Elections 2004
In June 2004 local elections will be held across the country to appoint local public representatives to each city and county council. These elections form a very relevant channel for the political participation of foreign nationals in Ireland, as one does not have to be an Irish citizen to vote or to stand for local election.

Due to recent legislative changes, public representatives who hold a seat in the national parliament, Dáil Eireann, will no longer be eligible for election to a local authority and the 2004 elections will be the first that incorporate this change. A number of new seats can be contested this time, a fact that may present exciting opportunities for minority ethnic groups.

What does Local Government Do?
There are 29 county councils, 5 city councils, as well as 5 borough councils and 49 town councils in Ireland that hold certain local government powers. They are responsible for a number of principal services such as housing, water supply and sewerage, road transportation and safety, development incentives and controls, environmental protection, recreation and amenities. Due to recent reforms in local government reform structures, a number of changes have been made to increase the power of local authorities to devise policy and contribute to planning for the city or county. New committees have now been created in every local authority in which elected representatives participate in policy-making and economic and social planning.

Who is eligible to vote in Local Elections and how do I register?
You must be over the age of 18 to vote in local elections and Irish citizenship is not required. However, in order to vote, you must be registered in the register of electors in the local authority area in which you live. This usually requires that you have been living at your ordinary address since the 1st September 2003. A register of electors is compiled each year by city and county councils and by now Applications for Registration should have been distributed to all households. If you have not received this form or you have not yet registered, you still have until the 1st November 2003 to get the Application for Registration for the Register of Electors, fill it out and return it to your local city or county council. There is no charge for this and these forms can be obtained by telephoning or calling into the Franchise Section the local city or council office.

The draft register will be published on 1st November 2003 and displayed for public inspection in post offices, libraries and other public buildings up until 25th November 2003. You should check the draft register during this period to ensure you are correctly registered. The final register comes into force on 15th February but even still, late applications can be made right up until 15 days before polling day.

What if I want to stand for election?
In local government elections, it is not necessary to be an Irish citizen to be elected as a public representative. Someone wishing to stand for local election may nominate him/herself or be nominated by a registered elector and can be nominated to stand in more than one area. A candidate does not have to be affiliated to a political party to stand for election, but may instead stand as an independent candidate. Normally a deposit of approximately €300 is required to secure a nomination and this is refunded if the nominee is elected, withdraws their nomination, or dies prior to election.

Arrangements for nominations will be published by the local authority along with the notice of election in late Spring 2004. There is normally a period of one week during which candidates can be nominated for election and this takes place approximately four weeks before the polling day. You may nominate yourself or be nominated by a registered local government elector. If you are a member of a political party, you must submit a Certificate of Party Affiliation with your nomination form. If you wish to stand for election as an independent candidate, you must have your nomination paper signed by 15 “assenters”. These are people who are registered to vote in the local authority – excluding yourself and the person who nominated you.

Election of candidates happens through a system of proportional representation in a multi-member electoral area. To be elected, a candidate must receive a quota of votes, which depends on the number of valid polling papers and the number of seats to be contested.

Why should I vote?
Recent reform of local government has attempted to give greater power to local authorities and bring decision-making closer to people on the ground. This means that local government is an important site for ensuring a true representation of the Irish population. Diversity has not been traditionally represented at local political level and even the gender balance of elected representatives is highly disproportionate. Encouragingly, a number of women and men from minority ethnic communities in various regions have signalled their intention to stand for election with a particular interest in representing ethnic minority issues. Community groups and activists are also taking on a role to encourage and support the participation of traditionally excluded groups, both in candidature and in voting.
Awareness and education are important to ensure greater representation of minority groups in politics. Commitment to social inclusion and the principles and practice of equality within the body politic is also critical. The duration of the local election process will be an important time to remind public representatives of the Anti-Racism Protocol which all the major political parties in Ireland have endorsed. The Protocol commits its signatories to ensure that election campaigns are conducted in such a way that they do not incite hatred or prejudice on the grounds of ‘race’, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins, religious belief and membership of the Traveller Community.
Further information:
If you would like more information about the Anti-Racism Protocol, it is available from the NCCRI office or on web page www.nccri.com/protocol.html. More details about local government and the elections process is available on the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government website: www.environ.ie/elections/local.html or calling to or telephoning your local authority. A list of their contact details can be found overleaf.

If you would like to know more or discuss any of the information in this note, you can contact either the NCCRI, Tel: 01-4785777, email: elvanccri@eircom.net or Integrating Ireland, Tel: 01-478 3490, email: info@integratingireland.ie.

by As above Wed Oct 08, 2003 18:10

CountyCouncils TelephoneNumber
Carlow County Council, County Offices, Athy Road, Carlow 0503 70300
Cavan County Council, Courthouse, Cavan 049 4331799
Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare 065 6821616
Cork County Council, County Hall, Carrigrohane Road, Cork 021 276891
Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford, Co. Donegal 074 72222
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council, Town Hall, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin 01 2054700
Fingal County Council, County Hall, Main Street, Swords,Fingal, Co. Dublin. 01 8905000
Galway County Council, County Buildings, Prospect Hill, Galway 091 509000
Kerry County Council, Aras an Chontae, Rathass, Tralee 066 7121111
Kildare County Council, St. Mary's, Naas, Co. Kildare 045 873800
Kilkenny County Council, John's Green, Kilkenny 056 52699
Laois County Council, County Hall, Portlaoise, Co. Laois 0502 22044
Leitrim County Council, Courthouse, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim 078 20005
Limerick County Council, County Buildings, O'Connell Street,Limerick 061 318477
Longford County Council, County Secretary's Office, Dublin Road, Longford 043 46231
Louth County Council, Courthouse, Dundalk, Co. Louth 042 9335457
Mayo County Council, Aras an Chontae, Castlebar, Co. Mayo 094 24444
Meath County Council, County Hall, Navan, Co. Meath. 046 21581
Monaghan County Council, County Offices,The Glen, Monaghan 047 30500
Offaly County Council, Courthouse, Tullamore, Co. Offaly 0506 46800
Roscommon County Council, Courthouse, Roscommon 0903 37100
Sligo County Council, Riverside, Sligo 071 43221
South Dublin County Council, Town Centre,Tallaght, Dublin 24 01 4149000
North Tipperary County Council, Courthouse, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary 067 31771
South Tipperary County Council, County Hall, Emmet Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary 052 25399
Waterford County Council, County Offices, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford 058 22000
Westmeath County Council, County Buildings, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath 044 40861
Wexford County Council, County Hall, Wexford 053 42211
Wicklow County Council, County Offices, Wicklow 0404 20100

City Councils
City Councils TelephoneNumber
Cork City Council, City Hall, Cork + 353 21 966222
Dublin City Council, City Hall, Dublin 2 + 353 1 6722222
Galway City Council, City Hall, College Road, Galway + 353 91 536400
Limerick City Council, City Hall, Limerick + 353 61 415799
Waterford City Council, City Hall, Waterford + 353 51 309900

Town Councils
Town Councils TelephoneNumber
Arklow Town Council,Town Hall, Arklow 0402 32819
Athlone Town Council,Town Hall, Athlone 0902 72107
Athy Town Council, Rathstewart, Athy, Co. Kildare 0507 31444
Ballina Town Council, Market Square, Ballina, Co. Mayo 096 21399
Ballinasloe Town Council, Town Clerk's Office, Bridge St, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway 0905 42263
Birr Town Council, Town Clerk's Office, Birr, Co. Offaly 0509 20187
Bray Town Council,Town Hall, Bray, Co. Wicklow 01 2868285
Buncrana Town Council, Civic Offices, St. Oran's Road, Buncrana, Co. Donegal 077 61198
Bundoran Town Council,Town Clerk's Office, Bundoran, Co. Donegal 072 41230
Carlow Town Council,Town Hall, Carlow 0503 31759
Carrickmacross Town Council, Courthouse, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan 042 9663662
Carrick-on-Suir Town Council,Town Hall, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary 051 640032
Cashel Town Council,Town Hall, Cashel, Co. Tipperary 062 61166
Castlebar Town Council, Marsh House,Newtown, Castlebar, Co. Mayo 094 23350
Castleblayney Town Council,Town Clerk's Office, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan 042 9740058
Cavan Town Council,Town Hall, Cavan 049 4331397
Ceannanas Mor Town Council, Headfort Place, Ceannanas Mor 046 40064
Clonakilty Town Council,Town Hall, Clonakilty, Co. Cork 023 33380
Clones Town Council, Courthouse, Clones 047 51018
Cobh Town Council,Town Clerks Office, Cobh, Co. Cork 021 811307
Dundalk Town Council, Town Clerk's Office,Town Hall, Dundalk, Co. Louth 042 9332276
Dungarvan Town Council,Town Hall, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford 058 41111
Ennis Town Council, Waterpark House, Drumbiggle, Ennis 065 6828040
Enniscorthy Town Council, UDC Offices, Market Square, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford 054 33540
Fermoy Town Council, Courthouse, Fermoy, Co. Cork 025 31155
Killarney Town Council, Town Hall, Killarney, Co. Kerry 064 31023
Kilrush Town Council,Town Clerk's Office, Kilrush, Co. Clare 065 9051047
Kinsale Town Council, Municipal Hall, Kinsale, Co. Cork 021 772154
Letterkenny Town Council, Council Offices, Cavehill, Letterkenny 074 25399
Listowel Town Council, Town Hall, Charles Street, Listowel 068 21004
Longford Town Council, Dublin Road, Longford 043 46474
Macroom Town Council,Town Hall, Macroom 026 41545
Mallow Town Council, County Council Offices, Annabella, Mallow 022 21542
Midleton Town Council, Youghal Road, Midleton 021 631580
Monaghan Town Council, 1 Dublin Street, Monaghan 047 82600
Naas Town Council, Town Hall, Naas 045 897232
Navan Town Council,Town Hall, Watergate Street, Navan 046 29078
Nenagh Town Council, c/o Courthouse, Nenagh 067 31241
New Ross Town Council, Council Offices,The Tholsel, New Ross 051 421284
Skibbereen Town Council, Town Clerk's Office, Skibbereen 028 21222
Templemore Town Council,Town Hall,Templemore 0504 31496
Thurles Town Council, Slievenamon Road, Thurles 0504 21433
Tipperary Town Council, Dan Breen House,Tipperary 062 51179
Tralee Town Council, Town Hall, Princes Quay, Tralee 066 7121633
Trim Town Council,Town Hall,Trim 046 31238
Tullamore Town Council, UDC Offices, O'Connor Square,Tullamore 0506 52470
Westport Town Council, Castlebar Street, Westport 098 25888
Wicklow Town Council, Town Hall, Wicklow 0404 67327
Youghal Town Council, Town Hall, Youghal +353 24 92926

by non resident. Fri Oct 10, 2003 18:04

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