Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1945

What is this act about?

This law makes specific provisions for local government in the county borough of Dublin and the county of Dublin, primarily concerning the composition and elections of local councils and boards.

Who it applies to: The city council of Dublin and its members; The Lord Mayor of Dublin.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Constitutional law and human rights
Articles: 10
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The number of members in the city council of Dublin.
The division of the city of Dublin into electoral areas.
The appointment of a deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin.
The timing of elections for the council of the county of Dublin and certain Boards of Assistance.

Who does this act apply to?

The city council of Dublin and its members.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin.
The council of the county of Dublin and its members.
The Dublin, Rathdown, and Balrothery Boards of Assistance and their members.

What are the key points?

The city council of Dublin will consist of forty-five members after the next ordinary retirement day.
The Minister for Local Government and Public Health can divide the city into five or more electoral areas and assign the number of members to be elected for each.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin can appoint a deputy for periods not exceeding two months without city council consent, or three months in aggregate over twelve months with city council consent.
The new election for the council of the county of Dublin must be held between the passing of this Act and July 1, 1946, but the Minister can extend this period by up to two years.
New elections for the Dublin, Rathdown, and Balrothery Boards of Assistance are postponed until 1948.

Constitutional law and human rights

Constitution of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann) Act, 1922

Treaty (Confirmation of Amending Agreement) Act, 1925

Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1927

Electoral (Seanad Elections) Act, 1925

Referendum (Amendment) Act, 1983

Referendum (Amendment) Act, 1984

Oireachtas (Payment of Members) Act, 1933

Constitutional law and human rights

Legal text

Contents (10)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Section 10

Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1945 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1945 Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1945 Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1945 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 8 of 1945.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DUBLIN) ACT, 1945.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Definitions.

Section 2

Increase of number of members of the city council.

Section 3

Electoral areas in the city.

Section 4

Appointment of deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Section 5

Extension of period for holding the new election of members of council of county of Dublin.

Section 6

Postponement of new election of members of Dublin Board of Assistance.

Section 7

Postponement of new election of members of Rathdown Board of Assistance.

Section 8

Postponement of new election of members of Balrothery Board of Assistance.

Section 9

Adaptation of existing enactments.

Section 10

Short title and collective citation.

Acts Referred to Local Government Act, 1941 No. 23 of 1941 Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1930 No. 27 of 1930 Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1935 No. 10 of 1935 Public Assistance Act, 1939 No. 27 of 1939 Number 8 of 1945.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DUBLIN) ACT, 1945.

AN ACT TO MAKE CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN RELATION TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE COUNTY BOROUGH OF DUBLIN AND THE COUNTY OF DUBLIN. [20th March, 1945.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:— Definitions.

1.—In this Act— the expression “the Act of 1941” means the Local Government Act, 1941 (No. 23 of 1941); the expression “the city” means the county borough of Dublin; the expression “the city council” means the council established by the Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1930 (No. 27 of 1930) for the city; the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Local Government and Public Health.

Increase of number of members of the city council.

2.—(1) The city council shall, on and after the ordinary day of retirement of members thereof next after the passing of this Act, consist of forty-five members and that number of members shall accordingly be elected at every election of members of the city council held after the passing of this Act.

(2)So much of paragraph (a) of section 2 of the Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1935 (No. 10 of 1935), as enacts that the city council shall consist of thirty-five members shall be repealed on the ordinary day of retirement of members of the city council next after the passing of this Act.

Electoral areas in the city.

3.—(1) The Minister may by order— (a) make a new division of the city into electoral areas, and (b) assign to each such electoral area the number of members of the city council to be elected therefor.

(2)It shall be obligatory on the Minister to make an order under this section before the election of members of the city council held next after the passing of this Act.

(3)Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the Minister may make an order under this section whenever and so often as he thinks proper.

(4)The electoral areas into which the city is divided by an order under this section shall be five or more in number and such areas shall be the borough electoral areas in the city for the purposes of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1919, and subsequent enactments.

(5)In assigning by an order under this section the numbers of members to be elected for the electoral areas specified in the order, the Minister shall have regard to the populations and rateable valuations of such areas.

(6)The division of the city into electoral areas made by an order under this section shall (without prejudice to any subsequent such order) have effect for the purposes of the election of members of the city council held next after the order is made and thereafter.

(7)The number of members to be elected, at every election of members of the city council held after the making of an order under this section, for each electoral area specified in the order shall (without prejudice to any subsequent such order) be the number assigned by the order to that electoral area.

(8)Every order under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as conveniently may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either such House within the next seven days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

Appointment of deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin.

4.—(1) Where the Lord Mayor of Dublin is unable to discharge his functions during any period on account of illness or necessary absence from the city, he may, subject to the provisions of this section, appoint a member of the city council to be deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin during that period and the person so appointed may discharge the functions of the Lord Mayor of Dublin during that period.

(2)The period for which a person is appointed under subsection (1) of this section shall not, save with the consent of the city council, exceed two months.

(3)Where the power conferred by subsection (1) of this section is exercised in relation to two or more periods occurring during any period of twelve months, the aggregate of those periods shall not, save with the consent of the city council, exceed three months.

(4)Section 48 of the private pre-union Irish statute passed in the session of 1771-72 and numbered chapter xi (An Act for better regulating the Foundling Hospital and Work-house in the city of Dublin, etc., 11 & 12 Geo. III, c. xi) is hereby repealed.

Extension of period for holding the new election of members of council of county of Dublin.

5.—(1) In this section, the expression “the new election” means the election of members of the council of the county of Dublin which at the passing of this Act stands required by section 45 of the Act of 1941 to be held.

(2)Subject to subsection (3) of this section, the day to be fixed under section 45 of the Act of 1941 for the holding of the new election of members of the council of the county of Dublin shall be within the period beginning on the day on which this Act is passed and ending on the 1st day of July, 1946.

(3)If the Minister becomes of opinion that it is inadvisable to hold the new election of members of the council of the county of Dublin within the period mentioned in subsection (2) of this section— (a) because an alteration of the constitution and functions of the authorities administering local government in the county of Dublin is being considered by the Minister, (b) because reorganisations in the administration of the functions of the council of the county of Dublin or of any body whose expenses are provided in whole or in part by that council are incomplete, or (c) for any other reason connected with the administration of the functions of the council of the county of Dublin. the Minister may by order extend the said period by a period not exceeding two years or by a series of orders extend it by successive periods not exceeding two years in the aggregate.

(4)If the new election of members of the council of the county of Dublin is held in the year 1946 or the year 1947— (a) without prejudice to subsection (4) of section 45 of the Act of 1941, the new election shall not be a triennial election, and (b) an election of members of the council of the county of Dublin shall also be held in the year 1948 and that election shall be a triennial election.

(5)If the new election of members of the council of the county of Dublin is held in the year 1945 or in the year 1948, it shall be a triennial election.

(6)Subsection (2) of section 45 of the Act of 1941 shall not apply to the new election.

(7)Every order under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as conveniently may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

Postponement of new election of members of Dublin Board of Assistance.

6.—(1) In this section, the expression “the new election” means the election of members of the Dublin Board of Assistance which at the passing of this Act stands required by section 45 of the Act of 1941 to be held.

(2)An election of members of the Dublin Board of Assistance shall be held in the year 1948 (and not earlier) in accordance with the provisions in that behalf of the Public Assistance Act, 1939 (No. 27 of 1939) and such election shall be deemed to be the new election.

(3)Subsection (2) of section 45 of the Act of 1941 shall not apply to the new election.

Postponement of new election of members of Rathdown Board of Assistance.

7.—(1) In this section, the expression “the new election” means the election of members of the Rathdown Board of Assistance which at the passing of this Act stands required by section 45 of the Act of 1941 to be held.

(2)An election of members of the Rathdown Board of Assistance shall be held in the year 1948 (and not earlier) in accordance with the provisions in that behalf of the Public Assistance Act, 1939 (No. 27 of 1939), and such election shall be deemed to be the new election.

(3)Subsection (2) of section 45 of the Act of 1941 shall not apply to the new election.

Postponement of new election of members of Balrothery Board of Assistance.

8.—(1) In this section, the expression “the new election” means the election of members of the Balrothery Board of Assistance which at the passing of this Act stands required by section 45 of the Act of 1941 to be held.

(2)An election of members of the Balrothery Board of Assistance shall be held in the year 1948 (and not earlier) in accordance with the provisions in that behalf of the Public Assistance Act, 1939 (No. 27 of 1939), and such election shall be deemed to be the new election.

(3)Subsection (2) of section 45 of the Act of 1941 shall not apply to the new election.

Adaptation of existing enactments.

9.—(1) The Minister may by order make such adaptations in any enactment in force at the passing of this Act and relating to matters affected by this Act as are in his opinion necessary to enable the enactment to have effect in conformity with the provisions of this Act.

(2)Every order under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as conveniently may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

Short title and collective citation.

10.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1945.

(2)This Act and the Local Government (Dublin) Acts, 1930 to 1940, may be cited together as the Local Government (Dublin) Acts, 1930 to 1945.

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