Local Elections Act, 1966

What is this act about?

This law changes the years when local elections are held and makes provisions for other related matters concerning these elections. It primarily shifts the schedule for local elections and certain related appointments to a new timeline.

Who it applies to: Members of local authorities; Individuals involved in school attendance committees.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Constitutional law and human rights
Articles: 6
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The years for holding local elections.
The years for making appointments to school attendance committees.
The timing of certain meetings related to local governance.
Amendments to the Electoral Act, 1963, regarding election dates.

Who does this act apply to?

Members of local authorities.
Individuals involved in school attendance committees.

What are the key points?

Local elections for members of every local authority will be held in 1967 and every five years (quinquennially) thereafter.
The terms of office for current local authority members are extended to align with the 1967 elections.
Appointments for school attendance committees will be made in 1967 and considered quinquennial.
A fixed election day must be in the month of June in the year the elections are held.

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 (6)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6

Local Elections Act, 1966 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 1966 Local Elections Act, 1966 Local Elections Act, 1966 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 28 of 1966.

LOCAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1966 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Alteration of years for holding local elections.

Section 2

Alteration of years for making appointments of school attendance committees.

Section 3

Provisions with respect to certain meetings.

Section 4

Amendment of section 84 (1) of Electoral Act, 1963.

Section 5

Repeals.

Section 6

Short title, collective citation, construction and commencement.

Acts Referred to Electoral Act, 1963 1963, No. 19 School Attendance Act, 1926 1926, No. 17 Local Elections Act, 1927 1927, No. 39 Vocational Education Act, 1930 1930, No. 29 Local Elections Act, 1965 1965, No. 19 Number 28 of 1966.

LOCAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1966 AN ACT TO ALTER THE YEARS FOR HOLDING LOCAL ELECTIONS AND TO MAKE PROVISION FOR CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED WITH LOCAL ELECTIONS. [15th November, 1966.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Alteration of years for holding local elections.

1.—(1)

Section 81

(1)of the Electoral Act, 1963 , 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 1967 and quinquennially thereafter.”

(2)The terms of office of members of local authorities current at the commencement of this Act shall stand extended so as to be in accordance with the holding in the year 1967 of the elections of members of local authorities next after the commencement of this Act and those elections shall be regarded as quinquennial elections.

Alteration of years for making appointments of school attendance committees.

2.—The appointments next after the commencement of this Act under section 10 of the School Attendance Act, 1926 , shall be made in the year 1967 and shall be regarded as quinquennial appointments.

Provisions with respect to certain meetings.

3.—(1) Notwithstanding that the Local Elections Act, 1927 , has been repealed, the meetings referred to in sections 8 (1), 9 (1), 9 (2) and 10 (2) of that Act by reference to the period from the 23rd day of June to the 1st day of July in a year shall be held in the year 1966, and, for the purposes of this subsection, that Act (including, in particular sections 8 (2), 9 (3), 10 (3) and 11) shall be regarded as not having been repealed.

(2)Subsection (1) of this section shall have effect in relation to the borough of Dun Laoghaire as it has effect in relation to other boroughs, provided however that any reference to a mayor shall be construed as a reference to the chairman.

(3)The meetings next after the commencement of this Act under section 14 of the Vocational Education Act, 1930 , shall be regarded as quinquennial meetings.

Amendment of section 84 (1) of Electoral Act, 1963.

4.—

Section 84

(1)of the Electoral Act, 1963 , is hereby amended by the addition of “subject to the restriction that a day fixed as aforesaid shall be in the month of June in the year in which the elections to which the order relates are held”.

Repeals.

5.— Sections 1 , 2

(2), 3

(2)and 3

(3)of the Local Elections Act, 1965 , are hereby repealed.

Short title, collective citation, construction and commencement.

6.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Local Elections Act, 1966.

(2)The Local Elections Acts, 1963 and 1965, and this Act may be cited together as the Local Elections Acts, 1963 to 1966, and shall be construed together as one Act.

(3)This Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on the 8th day of June, 1966, and anything done on or after that day and before and in anticipation of the passing of this Act shall be valid accordingly.

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