Local Elections Act, 1973

In short

This law changes the years for holding local elections and addresses other related matters concerning these elections. It primarily shifts the schedule for local elections to 1974 and every five years thereafter.

What it regulates

The timing of local elections for members of every local authority.
The possibility of postponing local elections by ministerial order.
The schedule for appointing members to school attendance committees.
The timing of certain meetings for vocational education committees.

Who it concerns

Members of local authorities.
The Minister responsible for local elections.
Members of school attendance committees and vocational education committees.

Key points

Local elections for all local authorities will be held in 1974 and every five years (quinquennially) thereafter.
The Minister can postpone an election by order, specifying a new election year, but this order must be confirmed by both Houses of the Oireachtas.
Terms of office for current local authority members are extended to align with the new 1974 election schedule.
Appointments for school attendance committees and certain meetings for vocational education committees are also adjusted to align with the new election schedule, being regarded as quinquennial.

Legal text

Local Elections Act, 1973 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.

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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 1973 Local Elections Act, 1973 Local Elections Act, 1973 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 7 of 1973 LOCAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1973 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Local elections to be held in 1974 and quinquennially thereafter. 2. Specification of local election year by order. 3. Alteration of years for making appointments of members of school attendance committees. 4. Provision with respect to certain meetings of vocational education committees. 5. Short title, construction and collective citation. Acts Referred to Electoral Act, 1963 1963, No. 19 Local Elections Act, 1966 1966, No. 28 Local Elections Act, 1972 1972, No. 12 School Attendance Act, 1926 1926, No. 17 Vocational Education Act, 1930 1930, No. 29 Number 7 of 1973 LOCAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1973 AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ALTERATION OF THE YEARS FOR HOLDING LOCAL ELECTIONS AND TO MAKE PROVISION FOR CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED WITH LOCAL ELECTIONS. [27th June, 1973] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: Local elections to be held in 1974 and quinquennially thereafter. 1.—

(1)Section 81

(1)of the Electoral Act, 1963 , as amended by section 1 of the Local Elections Act, 1966 , and section 3 of the Local Elections Act, 1972 , is hereby amended by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (a): “(a) An election of members of every local authority shall be held in the year 1974 and quinquennially thereafter.”.

(2)The terms of office of members of local authorities current at the passing of this Act shall stand extended so as to be in accordance with the holding in the year 1974 of the elections of members of local authorities next after the passing of this Act and those elections shall be regarded for all purposes as quinquennial elections. Specification of local election year by order. 2.—

(1)Where the Minister is satisfied that an election of members of every local authority falling to be held pursuant to section 81 of the Electoral Act, 1963 , as amended, should be postponed, he may by order, provide that such an election shall be held in a year specified in the order (which year is in this Act subsequently referred to as the specified election year).

(2)In case an order under subsection

(1)of this section is for the time being in force, the following provisions shall apply: (a) the reference in paragraph (a) of section 81

(1)of the Electoral Act, 1963 (inserted by section 1

(1)of this Act) to the year 1974 shall be construed as a reference to the year specified in the order as the specified election year and the said paragraph (

a)shall have effect accordingly, (
b)the terms of office of members of local authorities current when the order comes into operation shall stand extended so as to be in accordance with the holding, in the year so specified as the specified election year, of the elections of members of local authorities next after the order comes into operation and those elections shall be regarded for all purposes as quinquennial elections.

(3)The Minister may by order revoke an order made under subsection

(1)of this section.

(4)An order made under this section shall not come into operation unless and until a copy thereof has been laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the order has been confirmed by resolution of each such House. Alteration of years for making appointments of members of school attendance committees. 3.—

(1)The appointments next after the passing of this Act under section 10 of the School Attendance Act, 1926 , shall be made in the year 1974 and shall be regarded as quinquennial appointments.

(2)The appointments next after the coming into operation of an order under section 2 of this Act under section 10 of the School Attendance Act, 1926 , shall be made in the year specified in the order as the specified election year and shall be regarded as quinquennial appointments. Provision with respect to certain meetings of vocational education committees. 4.—The meetings next after the passing of this Act under section 14 of the Vocational Education Act, 1930 , and any other such meetings held next after the coming into operation of an order under section 2 of this Act shall be regarded as quinquennial meetings. Short title, construction and collective citation. 5.—

(1)This Act may be cited as the Local Elections Act, 1973.

(2)This Act and the Local Elections Acts, 1963 to 1973, shall be construed together as one Act and that collective citation shall include this Act. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.