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Dublin City Council

Comhairle Cathrach
Bhaile Átha Cliath
Dublin City Council ; Comhairle Cathrach; Bhaile Átha Cliath
Type
Type	City council
Leadership
Lord Mayor	Emma Blain, FG
Chief Executive	Richard Shakespeare
Structure
Seats	63
Political groups	Fine Gael (11) Social Democrats (10) Sinn Féin (9) Fianna Fáil (8) Green (8) Labour (4) PBP–Solidarity (2) Right to Change (1) Independent (10)
Elections
Voting system	Single transferable vote
Last election	7 June 2024
Motto
	Latin: Obedientia Civium Urbis Felicitas; "The Obedience of the citizens produces a happy city"
Meeting place
	City Hall, Dublin
Website
	dublincity.ie

Dublin City Council (Irish: Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath) is the local authority of the city of Dublin in Ireland. As a city council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. Until 2001, the authority was known as Dublin Corporation. The council is responsible for public housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture and environment. The council has 63 elected members and is the largest local council in Ireland. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the honorific title of Lord Mayor. The city administration is headed by a chief executive, Richard Shakespeare. The council meets at City Hall, Dublin.

Legal status

Local government in Dublin is regulated by the Local Government Act 2001. This provided for the renaming of the old Dublin Corporation to its present title of Dublin City Council. Dublin City Council sends seven representatives to the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, one of three such Assemblies in the state.^[3]

Dublin City is bordered by the counties of Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. These four local government areas comprise the traditional County Dublin. In 2013, all of Dublin's councils, except Fingal, supported the introduction of an executive mayor the Dublin Metropolitan Area, and a Citizen's Assembly has been planned in order to establish what a combined Dublin Mayorship would look like.^{[citation needed]}

Statutory functions

The functions of the City Council include: public housing, city library services, refuse services, drainage, driver and vehicle licensing, planning and roads. The Dublin City Council's Draft Budget for 2023 estimates a total revenue of €1.24 bn, which is an increase of €0.11bn from the previous year. The Housing and Building Division is the service with the largest spend, with an estimated operational expenditure of €550.5 m, almost €53 m more than in 2022. The estimated income for Housing and Building in 2023 is €457.5 m, up from €420.6m in 2022. The draft budget aims to maintain existing service levels at 2022 levels, with some modest increases in a small number of areas.

Budget

2023 (draft)

The estimated expenditure for 2023 is €1.24 bn, which is an increase of €0.11 bn over the 2022 Budget of €1.130 bn.^[4] The expenditure is divided into several service divisions, including Housing & Building, Road Transport & Safety, Water Services, Development Management, Environmental Services, Culture, Recreation & Amenity, and Agriculture, Education, Health & Welfare. The Housing and Building Division remains the service with the largest spend, with an estimated operational expenditure of €550.5m in 2023, almost €53m more than in 2022 (€497.4m). This increase relates to services that are largely government-funded, such as homeless services and RAS.

The estimated expenditure for each service division is:

Housing and Building: €550,484,483
Water Services: €68,093,780
Development Management: €63,715,641
Environmental Services: €247,419,867
Culture, Recreation and Amenity: €122,254,773
Agriculture, Education, Health and Welfare: €2,746,874

Compared to the 2022 budget, the estimated expenditure for 2023 increased by €0.11 bn. This increase is largely due to the increased spending on Housing and Building services, which are largely Government funded. The estimated net expenditure for each service division in the Dublin City Council's Draft Budget for 2023 is listed above

The 2022 budget allocated €15.4 mn for energy-related expenses for Dublin City Council (DCC). DCC faces an additional €22.5 mn in costs over 2022 and 2023 due to energy and non-energy inflation. The government provides €5 mn for rising energy costs, and DCC bears the impact of broader inflation. Additionally, a public sector pay deal includes €9.9 mn and €25.9 mn in 2022 and 2023, respectively, to support the City Council as an employer.

History

Prior to 1841, the administrative and governmental system of Dublin, known as Dublin Corporation, was bicameral having an assembly of called the "House of Aldermen" and another called the "House of Sheriffs and Commons". Under the Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840, they were replaced by a unicameral assembly. The name Dublin City Council was adopted for the unicameral assembly. The Lord Mayor of Dublin presided over the assembly. This office had existed since 1665. The first City Council was elected in October 1841 when Daniel O'Connell became the first Lord Mayor. Since 1 January 2002, the functions of local government have been transferred to Dublin City Council.^[5] To coincide with its name change, the city council adopted a new logo and brand identity, based on a simplified version of the ancient "three castles" symbol.

Dublin City Council's simplified "three castles" logo beside the Royal Canal in Phibsborough.

Structures

Executive power is shared between the council and an appointed executive official known as the chief executive. The chief executive is responsible for a staff of 6,200. The offices of the chief executive and other administrative staff are based in the Civic Offices on Wood Quay. The Lord Mayor of Dublin acts as chair of the council is the ceremonial head of the city government.

Representative power is vested in the city assembly which has 63 members. The City Council meets in plenary session on the first Monday of every month in Dublin City Hall. One of the council's most important roles is that of passing an annual budget. Should any Irish council fail to pass a budget within the allotted time, the Minister for the Environment is empowered to abolish it and grant its powers to a commissioner until the next scheduled council elections.

Elections

Members of Dublin City Council are elected for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote from multi-member local electoral areas.

Year		FF		FG		GP		SF		Lab		SD		PBP–S		II		RTC		I4C		AAA		UL		PDs		WP		Ind	Total
2024	8		11		8		9		4		10		2		1		1		0		—		—		—		0		9		63
2019	11		9		10		8		8		5		2		—		—		1		0		—		—		0		9		63
2014	9		8		3		16		8		—		5		—		—		—		1		1		—		0		12		63
2009	6		12		0		7		19		—		2		—		—		—		0		—		—		0		6		52
2004	12		9		1		10		16		—		—		—		—		—		0		—		1		0		3		52
1999	20		9		2		4		14		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		0		0		3		52
1991	20		6		4		1		10		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		1		5		5		52
1985	26		13		0		1		2		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		6		4		52

Local electoral areas

Dublin City is divided into LEAs, defined by electoral divisions.^[6] The electoral divisions were formerly known as wards and were defined in 1986, subject to revision in 1994 and in 1997.^[7]

LEA	Definition	Seats
Artane–Whitehall	Beaumont A, Beaumont B, Beaumont C, Harmonstown A, Kilmore A, Kilmore B, Kilmore C, Kilmore D, Priorswood A, Priorswood B, Priorswood C, Priorswood D, Priorswood E, Whitehall A, Whitehall B, Whitehall C and Whitehall D.	6
Ballyfermot–Drimnagh	Carna, Chapelizod, Cherry Orchard A, Cherry Orchard C, Crumlin A, Crumlin E, Crumlin F, Decies, Drumfinn, Inchicore A, Inchicore B, Kilmainham A, Kylemore, Walkinstown A, Walkinstown B and Walkinstown C.	5
Ballymun–Finglas	Ballygall A, Ballygall B, Ballygall C, Ballygall D, Ballymun A, Ballymun B, Ballymun C, Ballymun D, Ballymun E, Ballymun F, Finglas North A, Finglas North B, Finglas North C, Finglas South A, Finglas South B, Finglas South C and Finglas South D.	6
Cabra–Glasnevin	Arran Quay A, Ashtown A, Ashtown B, Botanic A, Botanic B, Botanic C, Cabra East A, Cabra East B, Cabra East C, Cabra West A, Cabra West B, Cabra West C, Cabra West D, Drumcondra South C, Inns Quay A and Inns Quay B; and that part of the electoral division of Phoenix Park not contained in the local electoral area of South West Inner City.	7
Clontarf	Beaumont D, Beaumont E, Beaumont F, Clontarf East A, Clontarf East B, Clontarf East C, Clontarf East D, Clontarf East E, Clontarf West A, Clontarf West B, Clontarf West C, Clontarf West D, Clontarf West E, Drumcondra South A, Grace Park and Harmonstown B.	6
Donaghmede	Ayrfield, Edenmore, Grange A, Grange B, Grange C, Grange D, Grange E, Raheny-Foxfield, Raheny-Greendale and Raheny-St. Assam.	5
Kimmage–Rathmines	Crumlin B, Crumlin C, Crumlin D, Kimmage A, Kimmage B, Kimmage C, Kimmage D, Kimmage E, Rathfarnham, Rathmines West A, Rathmines West C, Rathmines West D, Rathmines West E, Rathmines West F, Terenure A, Terenure B, Terenure C and Terenure D.	6
North Inner City	Arran Quay B, Arran Quay C, Arran Quay D, Arran Quay E, Ballybough A, Ballybough B, Drumcondra South B, Inns Quay C, Mountjoy A, Mountjoy B, North City, North Dock A, North Dock B, North Dock C, Rotunda A and Rotunda B.	7
Pembroke	Pembroke East B, Pembroke East C, Pembroke East D, Pembroke East E, Pembroke West B, Pembroke West C, Rathmines East A, Rathmines East B, Rathmines East C, Rathmines East D and Rathmines West B.	5
South East Inner City	Mansion House A, Mansion House B, Pembroke East A, Pembroke West A, Royal Exchange A, Royal Exchange B, St. Kevin's, South Dock, Wood Quay A and Wood Quay B.	5
South West Inner City	Kilmainham B, Kilmainham C, Merchants Quay A, Merchants Quay B, Merchants Quay C, Merchants Quay D, Merchants Quay E, Merchants Quay F, Ushers A, Ushers B, Ushers C, Ushers D, Ushers E and Ushers F; and that part of the electoral division of Phoenix Park situated south of a line drawn along Chapelizod Road, Conyngham Road and Parkgate Street.	5

Current councillors

Mansion House.
Official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

2024 seats summary

Party		Seats
	Fine Gael	11
	Social Democrats	10
	Sinn Féin	9
	Fianna Fáil	8
	Green	8
	Labour	4
	PBP–Solidarity	2
	Right to Change	1
	Independent	10^[a]

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.^[8]

Council members from 2024 election
Local electoral area	Name	Party
Artane–Whitehall	Racheal Batten		Fianna Fáil
	Edel Moran		Sinn Féin
	John Lyons^[a]		Independent Left
	Declan Flanagan		Fine Gael
	Jesslyn Henry		Social Democrats
	Aisling Silke		Social Democrats
Ballyfermot–Drimnagh	Daithí Doolan		Sinn Féin
	Vincent Jackson		Independent
	Hazel De Nortúin		PBP–Solidarity
	Ray Cunningham		Green
	Philip Sutcliffe Snr^[b]		Independent
Ballymun–Finglas	Keith Connolly		Fianna Fáil
	Gavin Pepper		Independent
	Anthony Connaghan		Sinn Féin
	Conor Reddy		PBP–Solidarity
	Mary Callaghan		Social Democrats
	Leslie Kane		Sinn Féin
Cabra–Glasnevin	Cieran Perry		Independent
	Feljin Jose		Green
	Colm O'Rourke		Fine Gael
	Gayle Ralph		Fine Gael
	Cat O'Driscoll		Social Democrats
	John Stephens		Fianna Fáil
	Séamas McGrattan		Sinn Féin
Clontarf	Naoise Ó Muirí^[c]		Fine Gael
	Deirdre Heney		Fianna Fáil
	Barry Heneghan^[c]		Independent
	Catherine Stocker		Social Democrats
	Donna Cooney		Green
	Alison Field		Labour
Donaghmede	Tom Brabazon^[c]		Fianna Fáil
	Daryl Barron		Fianna Fáil
	Paddy Monahan		Social Democrats
	Supriya Singh		Fine Gael
	Mícheál Mac Donncha		Sinn Féin
Kimmage–Rathmines	Pat Dunne		Right to Change
	Carolyn Moore		Green
	Punam Rane		Fine Gael
	Fiona Connelly		Labour
	Eoin Hayes^[c]		Social Democrats
	Patrick Kinsella		Fine Gael
North Inner City	Ray McAdam		Fine Gael
	Janet Horner		Green
	Christy Burke		Independent
	Malachy Steenson		Independent
	Nial Ring		Independent
	Janice Boylan		Sinn Féin
	Daniel Ennis		Social Democrats
Pembroke	James Geoghegan^[c]		Fine Gael
	Hazel Chu		Green
	Dermot Lacey		Labour
	Emma Blain		Fine Gael
	Rory Hogan		Fianna Fáil
South East Inner City	Claire Byrne		Green
	Kourtney Kenny		Sinn Féin
	Danny Byrne		Fine Gael
	Cian Farrell		Social Democrats
	Mannix Flynn		Independent
South West Inner City	Michael Pidgeon		Green
	Darragh Moriarty		Labour
	Jen Cummins^[c]		Social Democrats
	Ammar Ali		Fianna Fáil
	Máire Devine^[c]		Sinn Féin

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c John Lyons is a member of the unregistered Independent Left party and therefore sits as an independent on the council, and appeared as so on the 2024 ballot paper.
^ Changed party, see table below for details.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Replaced during term, see table below for details.

Co-options

	Outgoing	LEA	Reason	Date	Co-optee
Fianna Fáil	Tom Brabazon	Donaghmede	Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election	18 December 2024	Aoibheann Mahon^[9]
Social Democrats	Jen Cummins	South West Inner City	Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election	18 December 2024	Lesley Byrne^[9]
Sinn Féin	Máire Devine	South West Inner City	Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election	18 December 2024	Ciaran Ó Meachair^[9]
Fine Gael	James Geoghegan	Pembroke	Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election	18 December 2024	David Coffey^[9]
Social Democrats	Eoin Hayes	Kimmage–Rathmines	Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election	18 December 2024	Tara Deacy^[9]
Independent	Barry Heneghan	Clontarf	Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election	18 December 2024	Kevin Breen^[9]
Fine Gael	Naoise Ó Muirí	Clontarf	Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election	18 December 2024	Clodagh Ní Mhuirí^[9]

Changes in affiliation

Name	LEA	Elected as		New affiliation		Date
Philip Sutcliffe Snr	Ballyfermot–Drimnagh		Independent Ireland		Independent	23 November 2024^[10]

Council buildings

The Lord Mayor's official residence is the Mansion House, which first became the residence of the Lord Mayor in 1715.

Council meetings take place in the headquarters at Dublin City Hall. Formerly Royal Exchange, the City Hall is one of Dublin's finest buildings and located on Dame Street. It was built in 1769–79 to the winning design of Thomas Cooley. In an architectural competition, James Gandon was the runner-up with a scheme that many people favoured. The building was taken over for city government use in the 1850s.

References

^ "Chief Executive". Dublin City Council. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
^ Blaney, Amy (24 May 2023). "Dublin City Council confirms date for Owen Keegan to retire as CEO". Irish Independent.
^ Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 573 of 2014). Signed on 16 December 2014. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 February 2022.
^ Owen P. Keegan Chief Executive. "Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Dréachtbhuiséad 2023 Dublin City Council Draft Budget 2023" (PDF).
^ Local Government Act 2001, s. 10: Local government areas (No. 37 of 2001, s. 10), "S. 10(2): The State continues to stand divided into local government areas to be known as counties and cities which are the areas set out in Parts 1 and 2, respectively, of Schedule 5.". Enacted on 21 July 2001. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 23 June 2021.
^ City of Dublin Local Electoral Areas Order 2018 (S.I. No. 614 of 2018). Signed on 19 December 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 1 February 2019.
^ County Borough of Dublin (Wards) Regulations 1986 (S.I. No. 12 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.; County Borough of Dublin (Wards) (Amendment) Regulations 1994 (S.I. No. 109 of 1994). Signed on 20 January 1986 by Michael Smith, Minister for the Environment. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.; County Borough of Dublin (Wards) (Amendment) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 43 of 1997). Signed on 21 January 1997 by Brendan Howlin, Minister for the Environment. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
^ "Dublin City Council – Elected Candidates". RTÉ News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Fine Gael's Emma Blain elected Lord Mayor of Dublin". The Irish Times. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
^ Mullooly, Ciaran. "Statement from Independent Ireland". x.com. Retrieved 23 November 2024.