Laois County Council

Comhairle Chontae Laoise
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Paschal McEvoy, FF
Structure
Seats19
Political groups
  •   Fine Gael (7)
  •   Fianna Fáil (6)
  •   Sinn Féin (2)
  •   Labour Party (1)
  •   Independent (3)
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 Edit this at Wikidata
The area governed by the council

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.

History

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]

Regional Assembly

Laois County Council has two representatives on the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly who are part of the Midland Strategic Planning Area Committee.[6]

Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts

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

Councillors

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
  1. 1 2 Replaced during term, see table below for details.

Co-options

Party Outgoing Electoral area Reason Date Co-optee
Fine Gael Tom Mulhall Graiguecullen–Portarlington Retirement January 2021 P. J. Kelly
Fine Gael Mary Sweeney Portlaoise Retirement January 2022 Barry Walsh

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "Our town c. 1850 - 2000". Portlaoise Pictures. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "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.
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