Meath County Council
Meath County Council Comhairle Chontae na Mí | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Sharon Tolan, FG | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 40 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 7 June 2024 |
| Motto | |
| Tré Neart le Chéile (Irish) "Stronger Together" | |
| Meeting place | |
| County Hall, Navan | |
| Website | |
Official website  | |
Meath County Council (Irish: Comhairle Chontae na Mí) is the local authority of County Meath, 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.[1] 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, Jackie Maguire. The county town is Navan.
History
[edit]Meath County Council commissioned a purpose-built headquarters at Railway Street in Navan in the early 20th century.[2] It then moved to more modern facilities at the new County Hall on the Dublin Road in Navan in 2017.[3]
Regional Assembly
[edit]Meath County Council has three representatives on the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly who are part of the Eastern Strategic Planning Area Committee.[4]
Elections
[edit]Members of Meath 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).
| Year | FG | FF | SF | Aon | Lab | SD | GP | WP | Ind | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 40 | |||||||||
| 2019 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 40 | |||||||||
| 2014 | 13 | 10 | 8 | — | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 40 | |||||||||
| 2009 | 11 | 8 | 1 | — | 4 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 29 | |||||||||
| 2004 | 9 | 12 | 2 | — | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 5 | 29 | |||||||||
| 1999 | 11 | 14 | 1 | — | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 29 | |||||||||
| 1991 | 9 | 12 | 0 | — | 5 | — | 0 | 1 | 3 | 29 | |||||||||
| 1985 | 7 | 17 | 0 | — | 3 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 29 | |||||||||
Local electoral areas and municipal districts
[edit]County Meath is divided into LEAs, defined by electoral divisions, and into municipal districts which exercise powers of the council locally.[5][6]
| Municipal District and LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Ashbourne | Ardmulchan, Donaghmore, Kentstown, Kilbrew, Rathfeigh, Skreen, Stamullin, Tara; those parts of the electoral division of Ardcath not contained in the local electoral area of Laytown — Bettystown; and those parts of the electoral division of Ratoath to the east of a line drawn along the M2 motorway | 6 |
| Kells | An Ráth Mhór, Ardagh, Baile Átha Buí, Ballinlough, Balrathboyne, Boherboy, Burry, Carrickleck, Castlekeeran, Castletown, Ceanannas Mór Rural (part), Ceanannas Mór Urban, Crossakeel, Crosskeys, Cruicetown, Domhnach Phádraig, Drumcondra, Girley, Grennanstown, Killallon, Killeagh, Kilmainham, Kilskeer, Knocklough, Loughan, Maperath, Martry, Moybolgue, Moylagh, Moynalty, Newcastle, Newtown, Nobber, Oldcastle, Posseckstown, Rathkenny, Staholmog, Stonefield, Tailtin and Trohanny | 7 |
| Laytown–Bettystown | Duleek, Grangegeeth, Julianstown, Killary, Mellifont, Painestown, Slane, St. Marys (part), Stackallan; and those parts of the electoral division of Ardcath north of a line drawn as follows: Commencing at the intersection of the boundary between the townlands of Bellewstown and Prioryland with the R152 road and then proceeding in a north-easterly direction along the R152 road to its intersection with the R150 road; then proceeding in an easterly direction along the R150 road to its intersection with the boundary between the electoral divisions of Ardcath and Duleek | 7 |
| Navan | Ardbraccan, Bective, Navan Rural and Navan Urban | 7 |
| Ratoath | Culmullin, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Killeen, Kilmessan, Kilmore, Rodanstown; and those parts of the electoral division of Ratoath not contained in the local electoral area of Ashbourne | 7 |
| Trim | Ardnamullan, Ballyboggan, Ballyconnell, Castlejordan, Castlerickard, Cill Bhríde, Cloghbrack, Clonmacduff, Gallow, Galtrim, Hill of Down, Innfield, Kilcooly, Kildalkey, Killaconnigan, Killyon, Laracor, Rahinstown, Rathmolyon, Summerhill, Trim Rural and Trim Urban | 6 |
Councillors
[edit]The following were elected at the 2024 Meath County Council election.
2024 seats summary
[edit]| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Gael | 11 | |
| Fianna Fáil | 9 | |
| Sinn Féin | 6 | |
| Aontú | 2 | |
| Social Democrats | 1 | |
| Independent | 11 | |
Councillors by electoral area
[edit]This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.[7]
| Council members from 2024 election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| LEA | Name | Party | |
| Ashbourne | Joe Bonner | Independent | |
| Amanda Smith | Independent | ||
| Alan Tobin | Fine Gael | ||
| Suzanna Jamal | Fine Gael | ||
| Conor Tormey | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Helen Meyer | Sinn Féin | ||
| Kells | Sarah Reilly | Fine Gael | |
| Eugene Cassidy | Fine Gael | ||
| Sean Drew | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Mike Bray | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Michael Gallagher | Sinn Féin | ||
| David Gilroy | Independent | ||
| Peter Caffrey | Sinn Féin | ||
| Laytown–Bettystown | Sharon Tolan | Fine Gael | |
| Paddy Meade | Fine Gael | ||
| Geraldine Keogan | Independent | ||
| Stephen McKee | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Wayne Harding | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Maria White | Sinn Féin | ||
| Carol Lennon | Independent | ||
| Navan | Eddie Fennessy | Sinn Féin | |
| Emer Tóibín | Aontú | ||
| Francis Deane | Independent | ||
| Pádraig Fitzsimons | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Linda Nelson Murray | Fine Gael | ||
| Alan Lawes | Independent | ||
| Yemi Adenuga | Fine Gael | ||
| Ratoath | Gillian Toole | Independent | |
| Maria Murphy | Fine Gael | ||
| Brian Fitzgerald | Independent | ||
| Caroline O'Reilly | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Nick Killian | Independent | ||
| Gerry O'Connor | Fine Gael | ||
| Fionnan Blake | Sinn Féin | ||
| Trim | Noel French | Independent | |
| Joe Fox | Fine Gael | ||
| Aisling Dempsey[a] | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Dave Boyne | Aontú | ||
| Padraig Coffey | Fianna Fáil | ||
| Ronan Moore | Social Democrats | ||
- Notes
Co-options
[edit]| Party | Outgoing | LEA | Reason | Date | Co-optee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fianna Fáil | Aisling Dempsey | Trim | Elected to 34th Dáil at the 2024 general election | 18 December 2024 | Paul O'Rourke[8] | |
References
[edit]- ^ "Community Information". Meath County Council. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
- ^ "Meath County Council Offices, Dillonsland, County Meath". Buildings of Ireland. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ "7m revamp of new council hq to begin". Meath Chronicle. 6 October 2015. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 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 Meath Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018 (S.I. No. 628 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 8 September 2020.
- ^ County Of Meath Local Electoral Areas And Municipal Districts (Amendment) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 8 of 2019). Signed on 17 January 2019. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 8 September 2020.
- ^ "Meath County Council – Elected Candidates". RTÉ News. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ "Paul O'Rourke will be co-opted to replace Cllr Dempsey". Meath Live. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.