Laois County Council Explained

Laois County Council (ga|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, then called Queen's County.^{[1] [2]} It included the judicial county of Queen's County except for the part in the town of Carlow, which became part of the administrative county of County Carlow.^[3]

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.^{[4] [5] [6]}

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.^[7]

Elections

Members of Laois 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							Total
2024	5		6		2		1		5	19
2019	7		6		2		1		3	19
2014	6		7		2		1		3	19
2009	12		8		1		1		3	25
2004	9		11		1		1		1		2		25
1999	10		14		0		1		0		1		25
1991	9		13		0		1		1		1		25
1985	9		14		0		1		1	25
1979	12		11		0		2		0	25
1974	12		11		0		2		0	25

Local electoral areas and municipal districts

County Laois is divided into municipal districts and LEAs, defined by electoral divisions.^[8]

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

Current councillors

The following were elected at the 2024 Laois County Council election.

Party		Seats
	6
	5
	2
	1
	5

Councillors by electoral area

This list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 7 June 2024.^[9]

Notes

Changes in affiliation

Notes and References

1. Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. 1898. 37. 1. Establishment of county councils. 12 August 1898. uk. 61 & 62 Vict..
2. Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. 1898. 37. 124. Commencement of Act. 12 August 1898. uk. 61 & 62 Vict..
3. Book: 27th Report of the Local Government Board for Ireland (Cmd. 9480). https://archive.org/details/op1253906-1001/page/302/mode/2up . Orders declaring the boundaries of administrative counties and defining county electoral divisions: Queen's County . 1900 . . Dublin . 303 .
4. Web site: Our town c. 1850 - 2000. Portlaoise Pictures. 3 November 2019. 6 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191106175748/http://www.portlaoisepictures.com/013courthouse.htm. live.
5. Web site: Survey of Architectural Heritage of Port Laoise. 17. Laois County Council. 1 December 2008. 3 November 2019. 14 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171114150712/http://www.laois.ie/wp-content/uploads/Portlaoise-Architecture-Report-2008-min.pdf. live.
6. Web site: 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. 3 November 2019. 6 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191106180750/https://www.laoistoday.ie/2019/05/24/1979-election-memories-the-men-in-suits-the-dealing-in-donoghues-and-charlie-mcdonald-loses-out-to-paddy-lalor-for-europe/. live.
7. 2014. si. 573. Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014. 16 December 2014. 1 May 2023. Article 5 and Schedule 3.
8. 2018. si. 622. County of Laois Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018. 19 December 2018. 24 April 2020. 2 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190202212156/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/si/622/made/en/print.
9. Web site: Laois County Council – Elected Candidates. RTÉ News. 12 June 2024.