From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
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The Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, Alan Dillon, welcomed the significant progress made in 2024 by women and diverse groups seeking election to local councils, while underlining the need for continued work and focus on the issue.
Speaking today, the Minister said:
“While we still have a way to go in terms of representation at local level, it is important to recognise the progress made in 2024 – both at the local elections last June and as a result of co-options to local councils since the general election in November. We witnessed a landmark level of participation amongst women and people from diverse backgrounds at the polls last June, with record numbers of both candidates and councillors elected. Co-options of women to local councils since the general election in November have pushed the number of women councillors higher still.”
The local elections last June saw the participation of a record 681 female candidates, representing an 18% increase versus the previous elections in 2019. The 247 women councillors who were ultimately elected in June made up 26% of all councillors – the highest proportion of women elected to local government in the history of the state. Three Councils in the country now have 40% or more women councillors, with 9 local electoral areas (LEAs) having more women councillors than men, and 10 LEAs having even numbers of women and men.
Additionally, over 100 candidates from a migrant background participated in the 2024 local elections, up from 56 in 2019. The number of migrant candidates elected more than doubled, with 21 elected, up from just 9 in 2019.
With some vacancies yet to be filled, a further 8 women councillors have been co-opted to date since the general election in November. South Dublin County Council has become the first local authority to have more women councillors than men.
The Minister continued:
“While women and people from diverse backgrounds are still underrepresented at local government level in Ireland, the wide range of programmes offered by my department, in collaboration with political parties, local authorities and key civil society partners, are moving the dial. By helping to raise public awareness of this issue, proactively promoting participation and making the role of councillor more attractive and sustainable for all, we are starting to affect real change.”
In 2024 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage implemented a range of measures aimed at promoting increased participation amongst women and diverse candidates. A budget of €1 million was utilised for that purpose, which will be available again in 2025.
Support amounting to over €500,000 was provided to civil society groups Women for Election and See Her Elected, who undertake vital training and capacity building work among potential candidates, as well as carrying out important research which helps to inform departmental policy.
Meanwhile, twenty three local authorities received a total of €192,650 in direct support through the department’s annual “Call for Funding,” which offers financing for activities which increase the participation of women and diverse groups at local level. Support was also offered to regional and local level caucuses, which provide a space in which women councillors can discuss issues affecting them or their constituents in an apolitical environment.
The Minister added:
“As the people working on the ground, local authorities and political parties are essential partners in our work. Furthermore, groups like Women for Election and See Her Elected are experts in their field, and provide the focused, needs based training that is essential to the success of candidates.”
Alongside this, in 2024, the department offered further funding to local authorities to support the upgrade of Council chambers for the running of hybrid meetings, allowing for more flexible participation in local democracy, especially for those with caring responsibilities. In 2024, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath County Councils, along with Cork City Council and the Regional Southern Assembly, shared €231,246 in this regard.
The department also continued its policy of ensuring that the role of councillor remains accessible and sustainable, including by the introduction of a revised gratuity scheme for retiring councillors in June 2024. A retiring councillor with the maximum 20 years’ service will now be eligible to receive a gratuity of €90,822 – an increase 12% on the maximum gratuity payable to councillors under the previous scheme. In addition, the current rate of remuneration for councillors rose to €30,274 per annum in 2024.
Concluding, the Minister said:
“People recognise the need for Council chambers to more fully reflect the communities they represent. While we can see the positive impact of our efforts in 2024, now is not the time to become complacent. It is my hope that in 2025 we can capitalise on the great work already done and, in advance of the next local elections, continue to work to achieve truly equitable representation for all at local level.”