Dún_Laoghaire–Rathdown_County_Council

Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council

Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council

Local authority Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown in Ireland

Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Dhún Laoghaire–Ráth an Dúin) is the local authority of the county of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland. It is one of three local authorities that succeeded the former Dublin County Council on its abolition on 1 January 1994 and one of four councils in the old County Dublin. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. The council has 40 elected members. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the title of Cathaoirleach (chairperson). The county administration is headed by a Chief Executive, Frank Curran. The county town is Dún Laoghaire. It serves a population of approximately 206,260.

Quick Facts Dún Laoghaire–RathdownCounty Council Comhairle ContaeDhún Laoghaire–Ráth an Dúin, Type ...
Location of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown in Ireland

History

The Council of the electoral County of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown was established in 1985 with 28 members.[1] Its members also sat as members of Dublin County Council and members from three electoral areas were also the members of Dún Laoghaire Corporation.[2]

On 1 January 1994, under the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993, County Dublin and the Borough of Dún Laoghaire ceased to exist with the new county of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown succeeding in the area of the electoral county. Dublin County Council and Dún Laoghaire Corporation also ceased to exist and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council came into being.[3][4]

The two sides of the county have distinct histories in terms of local government structures. On the Dún Laoghaire side of the county, the Borough of Dún Laoghaire had been established by the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930 as a successor body to urban districts of Dún Laoghaire, Blackrock, Dalkey, and Killiney and Ballybrack.[5] A Board of Town Commissioners for Kingstown had been established in 1834 and were subsequently renamed the Kingstown Urban District Council and then Dún Laoghaire Urban District Council. On the Rathdown side of the county, Rathdown No. 1 Rural District Council was established under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. Rathdown No. 1 Rural District Council was abolished by the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1930.[6]

On its formation, the Town Hall in Dún Laoghaire became the headquarters of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council.[7] It was subsequently renamed County Hall.[8]

The Local Government Act 2001 reformed the two-tier structure of local government. It confirmed the size of the council as 28 members.[9] Under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, the size of the council was increased to 40 members as part of a nationwide reallocation of local authority membership numbers.[10]

Regional Assembly

Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council has three representatives on the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly who are part of the Dublin Strategic Planning Area Committee.[11]

Local electoral areas

Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council has 40 seats, which is divided into the following seven local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions.[12][13] These are defined by electoral divisions which were defined in 1986, with minor amendments in 1994.[14][15]

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Councillors

2019 seats summary

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Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 24 May 2019.[16]

More information Council members from 2019 election, Local electoral area ...
Notes
  1. Replaced during term, see table below for details.
  2. Solidarity–People Before Profit was renamed as People Before Profit–Solidarity in June 2021.
  3. Changed party, see table below for details.

Co-options

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Changes in affiliation

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Controversies

M50 and compensation to Jackson Way Properties

An agreement was reached for Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council to compensate Jackson Way Properties by €12,860,700 for the compulsory purchase in October 1998 of its freehold interest in the lands, adjoining the M50 motorway.[18] The Council agreed to pay costs and expenses properly incurred by Jackson Way Properties in relation to preparation and submission of its claim.

The 2003 award total is broken down as follows:

  • Land taken – €9,691,000
  • Injurious affection – €2,296,700 and
  • Disturbance – €873,000.

It had been the view of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) that €4.2 million of this award represents the present value of corrupt enrichment by the property owners although this view is based on hearsay evidence given by Frank Dunlop. A company called Paisley Park Investments Ltd were registered as full owners in 1992 and the land was transferred to Jackson Way Properties in 1993, the beneficial owners of which are believed by CAB to be arcade owner James Kennedy and solicitor John Coldwell. However, in January 2014 the freezing order was lifted owing to the collapse of the associated political corruption trial involving Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Cathaoirleach Tony Fox;[19] damages were subsequently sought against CAB by Jackson Way.[20]

In early 2016,[21] the Office of the Information Commissioner found against the council for refusing to comply with a Freedom of Information request relating to the case, stating as follows, "I find it very difficult to accept that the Council holds no records coming within the scope of the request that cannot be released to the applicant under the FOI Act. It seems to me that the Council adopted a blanket approach to the request by claiming that the exemptions applied to all records coming within the scope of the request and did not conduct a record by record examination."

Criminal Assets Bureau investigation

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) successfully obtained a High Court order on 26 July 2006 freezing land assets of 107 acres (0.43 km2) at Carrickmines, County Dublin, owned by Jackson Way Properties Ltd and preventing their sale.[22] CAB contended that these lands had been rezoned on 16 December 1997 by Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council from agricultural to industrial use after Frank Dunlop bribed and made corrupt payments to councillors to secure their support in the rezoning vote. That vote increased the value of just 17 acres (69,000 m2) of the property from €8 million to €61 million. CAB has interviewed and taken statements from Dunlop and will use him as a witness against a number of property developers; Dunlop served a jail sentence for corruption in Arbour Hill from May 2009 to July 2010.[23]

The lands in question have been the subject of investigation by the Mahon Tribunal in 2003 and 2004.

Criminal Assets Bureau v. Jackson Way Properties was due for hearing in the High Court Dublin in October 2010, which was vigorously defended with Jackson Way denying any wrongdoing and Mr Kennedy a tax exile currently living in Gibraltar returning to give evidence in the case. Jackson Way gave the court notice that they intend to subpoena councillors to give evidence. No Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown representative to date[when?] has been charged with any form of wrongdoing in relation to rezoning, likely because in January 2014 the freezing order was lifted owing to the collapse of a political corruption trial involving Frank Dunlop and Jacksonway's subsequent legal proceedings against CAB.

Revenue generation

There have been complaints about the council's policies regarding commercial rates and parking charges and also complaints from business owners in the town about the way in which the Council enforces the collection of parking charges and fines.[24][25][26] Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown local authority area has the second highest level of revenue generation of local authorities in the state after Dublin City.[27]

References

  1. [1]
    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.
  2. [2]
    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.
  3. [3]
    Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993 Commencement Order 1993 (S.I. No. 400 of 1993). Signed on 22 December 1993. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 9 December 2021.
  4. [4]
    Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993, s. 9: Establishment and boundaries of administrative counties (No. 31 of num=1993, s. 9). Enacted on 21 December 1993. Act of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 15 September 2020.
  5. [5]
    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. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 15 September 2020.
  6. [6]
    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. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 15 September 2020.
  7. [7]
    Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993, s. 9: Establishment and boundaries of administrative counties (No. 31 of 1993, s. 9). Act of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 10 May 2019.
  8. [8]
    "Dun Laoghaire town hall revamp to cost taxpayer a cool €3m". Dublin Live. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  9. [9]
    Local Government Act 2001, 7th Sch.: Number of members of local authorities (No. 37 of 2001, 7th Sch.). Enacted on 21 July 2001. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  10. [10]
    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.
  11. [11]
    Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014, Article 5 and Schedule 3 (S.I. No. 573 of 2014). Signed on 16 December 2014. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 30 April 2023.
  12. [12]
    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. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 9 February 2019.
  13. [13]
    "Local Electoral Areas DLR". Smart Dublin.
  14. [14]
    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.
  15. [15]
    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.
  16. [16]
    "Local Elections 2014: Results" (PDF). Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. pp. 114–127. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  17. [17]
    "A Statement Of People Before Profit". 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  18. [18]
    Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Co Statement on Jackson Way compensation, November 18 2003[permanent dead link]
  19. [19]
    "Dunlop collapses trial for corruption, Irish Independent, July 25, 2013". Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  20. [20]
    "Jim Kennedy firm claims damages from CAB over Carrickmines". The Irish Times. 12 July 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  21. [21]
    "XYZ Limited and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (FOI Act 2014)Case Number: 160082". Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  22. [22]
    "CAB blocks sale of €60m parcel at Carrickmines". Irish Independent. 27 July 2006. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2006.
  23. [23]
    "Dunlop released from Arbour Hill Prison after serving almost 14 months". The Irish Times. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  24. [24]
    "A Tale of Two Towns". The Irish Times. 8 February 2014. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  25. [25]
    "Why Dún Laoghaire Retailers may have to get Out of Dodge". The Irish Times. 7 November 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  26. [26]
    "Our Towns are Dying while Councils Bleed Motorists Dry for Revenue". The Irish Times. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  27. [27]
    "Local Property Tax Statistics (2016), [[Revenue Commissioners]], Revised Edition, April 2017" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
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