South Dublin County Council

History

The council of the electoral county of Dublin—Belgard was established in 1985 with 26 members. Its members also sat as members of Dublin County Council. At the 1991 local election, the electoral county was renamed South Dublin.

On 1 January 1994, under the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993, County Dublin and Dublin County Council ceased to exist and South Dublin County Council came into being.

The county council initially met in the Regional Technical College, Tallaght. A new building, County Hall, was purpose-built for the county council and was completed in 1994.

Legal status

The Local Government Act 2001 reformed the two-tier structure of local government in Ireland, although South Dublin had no second-tier areas. It confirmed the size of the council as 26 members. Following the Local Government Reform Act 2014 this number was increased to 40 members as part of a nationwide reallocation of local authority membership numbers.

The Local Government Act 1994 defines how an authority may act. The local authority may provide amenities, facilities and services related to; artistic and cultural activities, sports, games and similar activities, general recreational and leisure activities, civic improvements, environmental and heritage protection and improvement, and the public use of amenities. It may also act as a library authority.

Governance

Management

The Corporate Policy Group (CPG) consists of the Mayor together with the Chairs of each of the Strategic Policy Committees (SPC). The CPG is supported by the County Manager. Its function is to co-ordinate the work of the Committees so that policy decisions can be discussed and agreed for recommendation to the full council. "The CPG acts as a sort of Cabinet for the council and is supported by the County Manager."

Mayor and Deputy Mayor

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are chosen from among the councillors.

Regional Assembly

South Dublin County Council has three representatives on the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly who are part of the Dublin Strategic Planning Area Committee.

Elections

Members of South Dublin County Council are elected for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV) from multi-member local electoral areas (LEAs).

Local electoral areas

South Dublin is divided into LEAs. These are defined by electoral divisions which were defined in 1986, with minor amendments in 1994. The most recent polling scheme was published in 2020.

Councillors

2024 seats summary

The following were elected at the 2024 South Dublin County Council election.

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.

;Notes

Co-options

Tallaght South, resigned from Tallaght Central.

Changes in affiliation

Controversies

2019 wetlands destruction

In 2019, South Dublin County Council sanctioned the mass dumping of silt in a wetlands park which it had previously vowed to protect. A large part of the park's ecosystem was destroyed, buried under several feet of silt which was then leveled with heavy machinery. The destruction enraged environmental groups, who estimated that thousands of animals were buried and killed, including several protected and endangered species. In response, the council confirmed that they would review their silt disposal process, while admitting no wrongdoing.

References

References

1. (27 January 2014). "[[Local Government Reform Act 2014]]".
2. "Opening Hours & Useful Addresses". South Dublin County Council.
3. "Corporate Plan 2010–2014". South Dublin County Council.
4. "Census 2006 – Population of each province, county and city". Central Statistics Office.
5. "Register of Electors". South Dublin County Council.
6. {{Cite Irish legislation. (1985). (3 April 1985)
7. {{Cite Irish legislation. (1985). (3 April 1985)
8. {{Cite Irish legislation. (1991). (18 May 1991)
9. {{Cite Irish legislation. (1993). (22 December 1993)
10. {{cite Irish legislation. (1993). (22 December 1993)
11. (4 June 2019). "Two councillors served on first South Dublin County Council 25 years ago". The Echo.
12. "From Monastic Centre to Modern City". South Dublin County Council.
13. (21 July 2001). "[[Local Government Act 2001]]".
14. (27 January 2014). "[[Local Government Reform Act 2014]]".
15. (29 April 1994). "Local Government Act 1994".
16. "Corporate Plan 2010–2014, page 32". South Dublin County Council.
17. "Council website – Corporate Policy Group". South Dublin County Council.
18. (21 July 2001). "Local Government Act 2001".
19. {{Cite Irish legislation. (2014). (16 December 2014)
20. (19 December 2018). "County of South Dublin Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018".
21. (20 January 1986). "Dublin County (District Electoral Divisions) Regulations 1986".
22. (29 April 1994). "Dublin County (District Electoral Divisions) (Amendment) Regulations 1994".
23. "Scheme of Polling Districts and Polling Places".
24. "Local Elections 2024".
25. "South Dublin County Council – Elected Candidates". [[RTÉ News]].
26. (9 September 2024). "Dublin gets new councillors just three months after elections". [[The Irish Times]].
27. Walsh, Andrew. (19 December 2024). "South Dublin County Council becomes first in Ireland with majority female councillors".
28. Micalizzi, Alessia. (27 March 2025). "'Young people in politics is as important as gender balance'".
29. "Cllr. Francis Timmons To Seek Labour Party General Election Nomination In Dublin Mid-West".
30. "Archived copy".
31. (28 February 2025). "Moore walks from Irish Freedom Party".
32. (9 June 2025). "People Before Profit councillor quits party over 'behind the scenes' coalition pact talks with Sinn Féin".
33. (23 September 2019). "Council to review silt disposal as wetlands destroyed".
34. Murray, Sean. (23 September 2019). "Council confirms it deposited silt on 'destroyed' Tallaght wetlands".
35. "South Dublin council to review destruction of wetland eco-system". The Irish Times.