Local electoral area

A local electoral area (LEA; Irish: Toghlimistéir Áitiúil)^[1] is an electoral area for elections to local authorities in Ireland. All elections use the single transferable vote. The Republic of Ireland is divided into 166 LEAs, with an average population of 28,700 and average area of 423.3 square kilometres (163.4 sq mi). The boundaries of LEAs are defined by statutory instrument, usually based lower-level units called electoral divisions (EDs), with a total of 3,440 EDs in the state.

Dublin divided into its eleven local electoral areas, with dots symbolising members of Dublin City Council for each LEA

Clane LEA, County Kildare, shown divided into its electoral divisions (EDs).

As well as their use for electoral purposes, LEAs are local administrative units in Eurostat NUTS classification.^[2] They are used in local numbers of cases of COVID-19.^[3]

Municipal districts

A municipal district (Irish: ceantar bardasach)^[4] 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.^[5][6] 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.^[7]

In 2019, John Paul Phelan, Minister of State for Local Government and Electoral Reform, commented in the Dáil:^[8]

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.

Boundaries

Boundaries for local electoral areas and municipal district are determined by statutory instrument of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.^[9] The minister must first establish an independent boundary committee, but need not accept its advice. A boundary committee has been required since 1994 for electoral areas.^[10][11] The 2012–13 Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee considered both administrative areas (municipal districts, though not counties/cities) and electoral areas.^[11] 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.^[12] 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.

The current government plans to introduce an Electoral Commission in 2022, which would replace the Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees as well as handling other functions relating to elections and referendums in the state.^[13]

Areas

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. Unless otherwise specified, districts are titled "Municipal District of Carlow", etc.

Council	Seats	District	Local Electoral Area (LEA)	Seats
Carlow County Council^[14]	18	Carlow		7
		Muinebeag		5
		Tullow		6
Cavan County Council^[15]	18	Bailieborough—Cootehill		6
		Ballyjamesduff		6
		Cavan–Belturbet		6
Clare County Council^[16]	28	Ennis		7
		Killaloe		5
		Shannon		7
		West Clare	Ennistymon	4
			Kilrush	5
Cork City Council^[17]	31		Cork City North-East	6
			Cork City North-West	6
			Cork City South-Central	6
			Cork City South-East	6
			Cork City South-West	7
Cork County Council^[18]	55	Bandon—Kinsale		6
		Carrigaline		6
		Cobh		6
		East Cork	Midleton	7
		Fermoy		6
		Kanturk—Mallow	Kanturk	4
			Mallow	5
		Macroom		6
		West Cork	Bantry—West Cork	4
			Skibbereen—West Cork	5
Donegal County Council^[19]	37	Donegal		6
		Glenties		6
		Inishowen	Buncrana	5
			Carndonagh	4
		Letterkenny—Milford	Letterkenny	7
			Milford	3
		Lifford—Stranorlar		6
Dublin City Council^[20]	63		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
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council^[21]	40		Blackrock	6
			Dundrum	7
			Dún Laoghaire	7
			Glencullen—Sandyford	7
			Killiney—Shankill	6
			Stillorgan	6
Fingal County Council^[22]	40		Balbriggan	5
			Blanchardstown—Mulhuddart	5
			Castleknock	6
			Howth—Malahide	7
			Ongar	5
			Rush—Lusk	5
			Swords	7
Galway City Council^[23]	18		Galway City West	6
			Galway City Central	6
			Galway City East	6
Galway County Council^[24]	39	Athenry	Athenry—Oranmore	7
		Ballinasloe		6
		Conamara	Conamara North	4
			Conamara South	5
		Loughrea	Gort—Kinvara	5
			Loughrea	5
		Tuam		7
Kerry County Council^[25]	33	An Daingean—Castleisland	An Daingean	3
			Castleisland	4
		Kenmare		6
		Killarney		7
		Listowel		6
		Tralee		7
Kildare County Council^[26]	40	Athy		5
		Celbridge—Leixlip	Celbridge	4
			Leixlip	3
		Clane—Maynooth	Clane	5
			Maynooth	5
		Kildare—Newbridge	Kildare	5
			Newbridge	6
		Naas		7
Kilkenny County Council^[27]	24	Callan—Thomastown		6
		Castlecomer		6
		Kilkenny City	Kilkenny	7
		Piltown		5
Laois County Council^[28]	19	Borris-in-Ossory—Mountmellick		6
		Graiguecullen—Portarlington		6
		Portlaoise		7
Leitrim County Council^[29]	18	Ballinamore		6
		Carrick-on-Shannon		6
		Manorhamilton		6
Limerick City and County Council^[30]	40	Metropolitan District of Limerick City	Limerick City East	7
			Limerick City North	7
			Limerick City West	7
		Adare—Rathkeale		6
		Cappamore—Kilmallock		7
		Newcastle West		6
Longford County Council^[31]	18	Ballymahon		6
		Granard		5
		Longford		7
Louth County Council^[32]^[33]	29	Ardee		6
		Borough District of Drogheda	Drogheda Rural	4
			Drogheda Urban	6
		Dundalk	Dundalk—Carlingford	6
			Dundalk South	7
Mayo County Council^[34]	30	Ballina		6
		Castlebar		7
		Claremorris	Claremorris	6
			Swinford	4
		Westport—Belmullet	Westport	4
			Belmullet	3
Meath County Council^[35]^[36]	40	Ashbourne		6
		Kells		7
		Laytown—Bettystown		7
		Navan		7
		Ratoath		7
		Trim		6
Monaghan County Council^[37]	18	Ballybay—Clones		5
		Carrickmacross—Castleblayney		6
		Monaghan		7
Offaly County Council^[38]	19	Birr		6
		Edenderry		6
		Tullamore		7
Roscommon County Council^[39]	18	Athlone		6
		Boyle		6
		Roscommon		6
Sligo County Council^[40]	18	Borough District of Sligo	Sligo—Strandhill	6
		Ballymote—Tobercurry		7
		Sligo—Drumcliff		7
South Dublin County Council^[41]	40		Clondalkin	7
			Firhouse—Bohernabreena	5
			Lucan	5
			Palmerstown—Fonthill	5
			Rathfarnham—Templeogue	7
			Tallaght Central	6
			Tallaght South	5
Tipperary County Council^[42]	40	Borough District of Clonmel	Clonmel	6
		Cahir—Cashel	Cahir	4
			Cashel—Tipperary	7
		Carrick-on-Suir		5
		Nenagh	Nenagh	5
			Newport	4
		Thurles	Thurles	5
			Roscrea—Templemore	4
Waterford City and County Council^[43]	32	Metropolitan District of Waterford City	Tramore—Waterford City West	6
			Waterford City East	6
			Waterford City South	6
		Comeragh	Portlaw—Kilmacthomas	5
		Dungarvan—Lismore	Dungarvan	6
			Lismore	3
Westmeath County Council^[44]	20	Athlone—Moate	Athlone	5
			Moate	4
		Mullingar—Kinnegad	Mullingar	6
			Kinnegad	5
Wexford County Council^[45]	34	Enniscorthy		6
		Gorey—Kilmuckridge	Gorey	6
			Kilmuckridge	4
		New Ross		6
		Rosslare		5
		Borough District of Wexford	Wexford	7
Wicklow County Council^[46]^[47]	32	Arklow		6
		Baltinglass		6
		Bray	Bray East	4
			Bray West	4
		Greystones		6
		Wicklow		6

See also

• Counties of Ireland
• Dáil constituencies

References

1. "Fógraíonn an tAire Sláinte Stephen Donnelly TD eolas áitiúil nua atá ag dul beo ar Mhol Sonraí COVID-19". www.gov.ie. from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
2. "Correspondence between the NUTS levels and the national administrative units". Eurostat. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
3. "Minister Donnelly announces new local information going live on the COVID-19 Data Hub". www.gov.ie. from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
4. Wicklow Municipal District (19 October 2015). "Agenda" (PDF). Wicklow County Council. (PDF) from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
5. "Local Government Reform". Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
6. Local Government Reform Act 2014 (2014 Establishment Day) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 215 of 2014). Signed on 22 May 2014. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
7. "Revised Acts". revisedacts.lawreform.ie. from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
8. Phelan, John Paul (23 January 2019). "Local Government Bill 2018: From the Seanad". Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) debates. Oireachtas. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
9. Local Government Reform Act 2014, s. 19: Municipal districts (No. 1 of 2014, s. 19). Signed on 27 January 2014. Act of the Oireachtas. Irish Statute Book.
10. Local Government Act 1994, s. 24: Local electoral areas (No. 8 of 1994, s. 24). Signed on 29 April 1994. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 27 January 2014, from Irish Statute Book.
11. Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee (30 May 2013). (PDF). Dublin: Stationery Office. pp. 13–14. ISBN 978-1-4064-2767-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
12. "Minister Alan Kelly Appoints Groups to Review Local Government Boundaries in Drogheda/Athlone/Waterford/Carlow". News. Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government. 19 June 2015. from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
13. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (8 January 2021). "General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill 2020". Government of Ireland. pp. 57–59. from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.; O'Halloran, Marie (30 December 2020). "Election regulator on horizon as Government approves proposals". The Irish Times. from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
14. County of Carlow Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 610 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
15. County of Cavan Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 611 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
16. County of Clare Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 612 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
17. City of Cork Local Electoral Areas Order 2019 (S.I. No. 27 of 2019). Signed on 31 January 2019. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
18. County Of Cork Local Electoral Areas And Municipal Districts Order 2019 (S.I. No. 28 of 2019). Signed on 31 January 2019. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
19. County of Donegal Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 613 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
20. City of Dublin Local Electoral Areas Order 2018 (S.I. No. 614 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
21. County of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Local Electoral Areas Order 2018 (S.I. No. 615 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
22. County of Fingal Local Electoral Areas Order 2018 (S.I. No. 616 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
23. City of Galway Local Electoral Areas Order 2018 (S.I. No. 617 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
24. County of Galway Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 618 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
25. County of Kerry Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 619 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
26. County of Kildare Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 620 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
27. County of Kilkenny Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 621 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
28. County of Laois Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 622 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
29. County of Leitrim Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 623 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
30. City and County of Limerick Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 624 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
31. County of Longgford Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 625 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
32. County of Louth Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 626 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
33. County Of Louth Local Electoral Areas And Municipal Districts (Amendment) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 6 of 2019). Signed on 17 January 2019. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
34. County of Mayo Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 627 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
35. County of Meath Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 628 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
36. County Of Meath Local Electoral Areas And Municipal Districts (Amendment) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 8 of 2019). Signed on 17 January 2019. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
37. County of Monaghan Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 629 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
38. County of Offaly Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 630 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
39. County of Roscommon Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 631 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
40. County of Sligo Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 632 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
41. County of South Dublin Local Electoral Areas Order 2018 (S.I. No. 633 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
42. County of Tipperary Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 634 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
43. City and County of Waterford Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 635 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
44. County of Westmeath Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 636 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
45. County of Wexford Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 637 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
46. County of Wicklow Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 638 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.
47. County Of Wicklow Local Electoral Areas And Municipal Districts (Amendment) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 7 of 2019). Signed on 17 January 2019. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Irish Statute Book.