Laois_County_Council
Laois County Council
Local authority of County Laois, Ireland
Laois County Council (Irish: Comhairle Chontae Laoise) is the local authority of County Laois, Ireland. 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 19 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, John Mulholland. The county town is Portlaoise.
Laois County Council Comhairle Chontae Laoise | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Paschal McEvoy, FF | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 19 |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 24 May 2019 |
| Motto | |
| Irish: I bpáirt leis an bpobal "In partnership with the community" | |
| Meeting place | |
| Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise | |
| Website | |
Official website  | |
Laois County Council was established on 1 April 1899 under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 for the administrative county of County Laois.[1][2] Meetings were originally held in Portlaoise Courthouse. After the courthouse became inadequate, a purpose-built facility, known as County Hall was built in May 1982.[3][4][5]
Laois County Council has two representatives on the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly who are part of the Midland Strategic Planning Area Committee.[6]
Laois County Council is divided into the following municipal districts and local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions.[7]
| Municipal District and LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Borris-in-Ossory–Mountmellick | Aghmacart, Arderin, Ballybrophy, Ballyfin, Borris-in-Ossory, Brisha, Caher, Capard, Cappalough, Cardtown, Castlecuffe, Castletown, Clash, Clonaslee, Clonin, Clonmore, Coolrain, Cuffsborough, Cullahill, Dangans, Donaghmore, Donore, Dunmore, Durrow, Errill, Garrymore, Graigue, Grantstown, Kilcoke, Kildellig, Killermogh, Kilnaseer, Kyle, Kyle South, Lacka, Marymount, Meelick, Moneenalassa, Moneymore, Mountmellick Rural, Mountmellick Urban, Mountrath, Nealstown, OMoresforest, Rathdowney, Rathsaran, Rearymore, Rosenallis, Tinnahinch and Trumra. | 6 |
| Graiguecullen–Portarlington | Ardough, Arless, Ballickmoyler, Ballyadams, Ballybrittas, Ballycarroll, Ballylehane, Ballylynan, Barrowhouse, Curraclone, Doonane, Emo, Farnans, Fossy, Graigue Rural, Jamestown, Killabban, Kilmullen, Kilmurry, Luggacurren, Moyanna, Newtown, Portarlington South, Rathaspick, Rossmore, Sallyford, Shrule, Stradbally, Tankardstown, Timahoe, Timogue, Turra and Vicarstown. | 6 |
| Portlaoise | Abbeyleix, Ballinakill, Ballyroan, Blandsfort, Borris, Clondarrig, Clonkeen, Colt, Cullenagh, Dysartgallen, Kilcolmanbane, Portlaoighise Rural, Portlaoighise Urban, Raheen and Shaen. | 7 |
2019 seats summary
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Gael | 7 | |
| Fianna Fáil | 6 | |
| Sinn Féin | 2 | |
| Labour | 1 | |
| Independent | 3 | |
Councillors by electoral area
This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 24 May 2019.[8]
| Council members from 2019 election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Local electoral area | Name | Party | |
| Borris-in-Ossory–Mountmellick | Paddy Bracken | Fianna Fáil | |
| James Kelly | Independent | ||
| Séamus McDonald | Fianna Fáil | ||
| John King | Fine Gael | ||
| Ollie Clooney | Independent | ||
| Conor Bergin | Fine Gael | ||
| Graiguecullen–Portarlington | Pádraig Fleming | Fianna Fáil | |
| Aidan Mullins | Sinn Féin | ||
| Tom Mulhall[lower-alpha 1] | Fine Gael | ||
| Paschal McEvoy | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Ben Brennan | Independent | ||
| Aisling Moran | Fine Gael | ||
| Portlaoise | William Aird | Fine Gael | |
| John Joe Fennelly | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Caroline Dwane Stanley | Sinn Féin | ||
| Catherine Fitzgerald | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Noel Tuohy | Labour | ||
| Mary Sweeney[lower-alpha 1] | Fine Gael | ||
| Thomasina Connell | Fine Gael | ||
- Notes
- Replaced during term, see table below for details.
Co-options
- Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, s. 1: Establishment of county councils (61 & 62 Vict., c. 37 of 1898, s. 1). Enacted on 12 August 1898. Act of the UK Parliament. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
- Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, s. 124: Commencement of Act (61 & 62 Vict., c. 37 of 1898, s. 124). Enacted on 12 August 1898. Act of the UK Parliament. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
- "Our town c. 1850 - 2000". Portlaoise Pictures. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- "Survey of Architectural Heritage of Port Laoise" (PDF). Laois County Council. 1 December 2008. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- "1979 Election Memories: The men in suits, the dealing in Donoghues, and Charlie McDonald loses out to Paddy Lalor for Europe". Laoise Today. 24 May 2019. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- 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 1 May 2023.
- 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. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 24 April 2020.
- "Local Elections 2019: Results, Transfer of Votes and Statistics" (PDF). Prepared by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.