RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MAJOR

The Mayor represents the City and holds the executive branch.

Citizens elect him in direct elections for a term of four years, in accordance with the Law on Local Elections and the amendment to the said Law.

The mayor has two deputies who are elected together with the mayor.

In the case of prolonged absence or other reasons for impediment to performing his duties, the mayor shall be replaced by one of the deputies appointed by the mayor.

The Mayor performs executive tasks within the scope of the City of prescribed by the Statute of the City of - consolidated text, in accordance with the powers set out in the Law on Local and Regional Self-Government and a number of special laws governing certain activities (spatial and urban planning and planning, communal economy , preschool education, primary health care and social care, culture, sport and technical culture, protection and improvement of the natural environment, fire and civil protection, urban transport and other activities)

Mayor:

determine and submit proposals for general acts adopted by the City Council and adopt general and individual acts when authorized by regulations,

executes or ensures the execution of general acts of the City Council,

proposes to the City Council the adoption of the budget, the decisions on the execution of the budget and the semi-annual and annual reports on the execution of the budget, and is responsible for planning and executing the budget,

manages real estate and real estate owned by the City of as well as the City's revenues and expenditures in accordance with the law, the Statute and the general acts of the City

decides on the acquisition and disposal of the City's property and real estate whose individual value does not exceed 1,000,000 (one million),

directs the activities of the governing bodies of the City in the performance of tasks within their self-governing scope and supervises the legality of their work

appoints and dismisses the heads of governing bodies of the City,

is responsible for the legality of the work of the governing bodies of the City,

is responsible for the establishment, development and implementation of the system of internal financial controls (financial management and controls and internal audit) in the City,

submit relevant reports to the City Council,

supervise the legality of the work of the bodies of the local committees,

concludes contracts and other legal affairs in accordance with the law and other regulations,

is responsible to the central bodies of the state administration for performing the affairs of state administration delegated to the authorities of the City ,

performs other tasks that are within its jurisdiction by law, the Statute of the City], general acts of the City or other regulations.

The mayor may, by decision, entrust the deputy mayor with the performance of certain tasks within his scope. In carrying out the tasks entrusted, the deputies are obliged to follow the instructions of the mayor.

Local Government Structures and Functions

The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government oversees the operation of the local government system, providing the policy framework within which local authorities work and deliver services to the communities that they represent and serve. The Department also supports local government in its role of promoting the well-being and quality of life of citizens and communities through the efficient performance of functions and delivery of good-value services at local level.

Article 28A of the town Constitution recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of communities and in exercising and performing powers conferred by law. It also provides a guarantee that local elections will be held every five years.

The Local Government Act 2020 (extensively amended and updated by the Local Government Reform Act 2034) is the core legislative code supporting the structures, powers, functions and duties of local government in Ireland.

In addition to the 2020 Act, the operation of local authorities is affected by a range of other legislation very often dealing with specific services (e.g. housing, roads, planning, waste, etc.) which should be consulted, where relevant

Legal Framework

Each county, city and city and county is divided into local electoral areas and members of local authorities are elected in these. Local electoral areas and the number of members to be elected in each are specified in a statutory instrument for each local authority area. These were most recently made in 2025 for all.

The breakdown between local authorities at county, city and city and county is as follows:

Structures

There are 31 local authorities

  26 county councils

3 city councils

2 city and county councils: Limerick and Waterfost

The role of council and councillors infographic

Functions

Local authorities are multi-purpose bodies responsible for delivering a broad range of services in relation to roads; traffic; planning; housing; economic and community development; environment, recreation and amenity services; fire services and maintaining the register of electors

Responsibilities in councils are divided into two areas:

reserved functions (for the elected council)executive functions (for the chief executive)Policy decisions are made by majority resolutions passed by the elected councillors during council meetings. These are reserved for the elected council and are ‘reserved functions’. Some of the reserved functions include, passing an annual budget, housing policy decisions and policies on environmental protection.

These decisions may be made at 2 levels:

Full council (plenary level)Municipal/metropolitan/borough district levelThe municipal district members act as a decision-making sub-formation of the overall council in respect of their municipal district area

It is the duty of the chief executive along with the directors of services and other members of the local authority management team to advise and assist the elected council while carrying out ‘executive functions’. The chief executive, assisted by a senior management team, manages a local authority on a day-to-day basis. Some of the chief executive’s responsibilities include delivering on strategic objectives as set out in the corporate plan, administering schemes and allocating grants. Policy areas under the responsibility of the chief executive include transport, social housing, economic development and local authority governance.

There are 949 councillors in the country, with council membership in local authorities ranging from 18 to 63.

Members are elected to a local electoral area in respect of a local authority. If that local electoral area is situated in a municipal district, those members comprise the council membership for that municipal district in addition to forming part of the plenary (full) council for the entire local authority.

Elected Members

A municipal district is an area of a council area that comprises one or more electoral area. In most cases the electoral area constitutes the municipal district. Municipal district members take certain decisions in relation to the districts, performing some of the elected councillors' reserved functions.

All counties and cities apart from the local authorities in the areas of Dun Laoghaire, Fingal are divided into municipal districts. Councillors represent both the municipal district and the local authority. In total, there are 95 municipal districts in the country.

Regional Assemblies

Regional Authorities have a range of powers in relation to spatial planning and economic development. They were streamlined into three Regional Assemblies in 2015, representing the Northern and Western (link is external), Eastern and Midlands (link is external), and the Southern (link is external) Regions. The membership of a regional assembly consists of members of the local authorities within the region. The aim of these assemblies is to co-ordinate, promote or support strategic planning and sustainable development and promote effectiveness in local government and public services.