Limerick City and County Council, and all local authorities in Ireland, hold local elections every five years in the month of May or June. The elections allow people to elect councillors to represent them in local government.
What is a Councillor?
A councillor is a member of a local authority. Councillors are directly elected in local elections and hold office for 5 years. Limerick City and County Council has 40 councillors who each represent the electoral area for which they are elected. Together they are the elected Council.
Limerick City and County Council has 4 Municipal Districts
- Metropolitan District of Limerick (broken into 3 Electoral Areas)
Limerick City East (7 seats)
Limerick City North (7 seats)
Limerick City West (7 seats) - Adare/Rathkeale Municipal District (6 seats)
- Cappamore/Kilmallock Municpal District (7 seats)
- Newcastle West Municipal District (6 seats)
The Role of a Councillor
A councillor represents the electoral area and municipal district for which they are elected, and the local authority as a whole. Councillors play a key role in decision-making for the communities they represent, and in developing and reviewing council policy.
Limerick City and County Council provides hundreds of services, ranging from roads, planning, housing, economic and community development, environment, libraries and fire services.
Becoming a councillor for Limerick City and County Council gives you the opportunity to represent your electoral area and have a voice in the Council for the communities you represent.
How to Become a Candidate in the 2024 Local Elections
If you wish to stand for election in 2024 in Limerick City and County Council, you may nominate yourself or may be nominated by a person who is registered to vote in the local authority area. You may be nominated to stand in more than one electoral area within the same local authority.
Who is Eligible for Election to a Local Authority?
Every Irish citizen and every person ordinarily resident in the State, who has reached the age of 18, is eligible to stand for election.
There are some disqualifications from becoming a member of a local authority; members of an Garda Síochána or a full-time members of the Irish defence forces; a judge. Full list of disqualifications are outlined in Local Government Act 2001, as amended – sections 13 and 13A.
Do Councillors Get a Salary?
Councillors receive an annual salary known as a Representational Payment and also a monthly allowance for attendance at meetings as part of their role. The representational payment is a salary type payment that councillors receive when they are elected.
Further Information
If you require further information about the role of a councillor, how to become a candidate in the 2024 local elections or information on Limerick Women’s Caucus, please contact Corporate Services, Limerick City and County Council, phone 061 556000.