Cork County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Chorcaí) is the local authority of County Cork, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001, as amended. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. The council has 55 elected members. Elections are held every five years and are by single transferable vote. The head of the council has the title of Mayor. The county administration is headed by a chief executive, Valerie O'Sullivan.[1] The county seat is Cork.
Cork County Council Comhairle Contae Chorcaí | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Frank O'Flynn, FF | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 55 |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
Last election | 7 June 2024 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| County Hall, Cork | |
| Website | |
Official website  | |
History
editCork County Council was established on 1 April 1899 under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 for the administrative county of County Cork.[2][3][4] Originally meetings of Cork County Council were held in the back portion of the top floor of Cork Courthouse.[5] By the 1950s these premises were becoming inadequate and County Hall opened in April 1968.[6]
Boundary change
editThe area under the administration of Cork County Council was reduced on 31 May 2019, ceding territory to Cork City Council.[7] This implemented changes under the Local Government Act 2019.[8]
The 2015 Cork Local Government Review had recommended merging Cork City Council and Cork County Council into a single "super council"; however, a minority report opposed the merger, with a subsequent report published by an expert advisory group in 2017 recommending a city boundary extension.[9][10][11]
Regional Assembly
editCork County Council has five representatives on the Southern Regional Assembly who are part of the South-West Strategic Planning Area Committee.[12]
Elections
editMembers of Cork 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 | FG | FF | SF | Lab | GP | SD | PDs | WP | II | Ind | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | — | 0 | 4 | 8 | 55 | ||||||||||
| 2019 | 20 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | — | 10 | 55 | ||||||||||
| 2014 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | — | 10 | 55 | ||||||||||
| 2009 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 0 | — | 6 | 48 | ||||||||||
| 2004 | 24 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 48 | ||||||||||
| 1999 | 21 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 48 | ||||||||||
| 1991 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 48 | ||||||||||
| 1985 | 19 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 48 | ||||||||||
Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts
editCounty Cork is divided into the municipal districts and local electoral areas, defined by electoral divisions.[13]
| Municipal District | LEA | Definition | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandon–Kinsale | Abbeymahon, Ballinadee, Ballinspittle, Ballyfeard, Ballymackean, Ballymartle, Ballymodan, Ballymurphy, Bandon, Baurleigh, Boulteen, Brinny, Butlerstown, Cashel, Coolmain, Courtmacsherry, Cullen (in the former Rural District of Kinsale), Inishannon, Kilbrittain, Kilbrogan, Kilmaloda East, Kilmaloda West, Kilmonoge, Kinsale Rural, Kinsale Urban, Kinure, Knockavilly, Knockroe, Laherne, Leighmoney, Murragh, Nohaval, Rathclarin, Templemartin, Templemichael, Templeomalus and Timoleague. | 6 | |
| Carrigaline | Ballyfoyle, Carrigaline (in the former rural district of Kinsale), Dunderrow, Farranbrien, Kilpatrick, Liscleary, Monkstown Urban, Templebreedy; and those parts of the electoral divisions of Ballygarvan, Carrigaline (in the former rural district of Cork), Douglas, Inishkenny, and Monkstown Rural that are not contained within the City of Cork. | 6 | |
| Cobh | Ballynaglogh, Carrignavar, Carrigtohill, Cobh Rural, Cobh Urban, Killeagh (in the former Rural District of Cork), Knockraha, Watergrasshill; and those parts of the electoral divisions of Caherlag, Rathcooney (part), Riverstown and Whitechurch that are not contained within the City of Cork. | 6 | |
| East Cork | Midleton | Ardagh, Ballintemple, Ballycottin, Ballyspillane, Castlemartyr, Clonmult, Clonpriest, Cloyne, Corkbeg, Dangan, Dungourney, Garryvoe, Ightermurragh, Inch, Kilcronat, Killeagh (in the former Rural District of Youghal No.1), Kilmacdonogh, Lisgoold, Midleton Rural, Midleton Urban, Mogeely, Rostellan, Templebodan, Templenacarriga, Youghal Rural (part) and Youghal Urban. | 7 |
| Fermoy | Aghern, Ballyarthur, Ballyhooly, Ballynoe, Carrig (in the former Rural District of Fermoy), Castle Hyde, Castlecooke, Castlelyons, Castletownroche, Clenor, Coole, Curraglass, Derryvillane, Doneraile, Farahy, Fermoy Rural, Fermoy Urban, Glanworth East, Glanworth West, Glenville, Gortnaskehy, Gortroe, Kilcor, Kilcummer, Kildinan, Kildorrery, Kilgullane, Killathy, Kilphelan, Kilworth, Knockmourne, Leitrim, Marshalstown, Mitchelstown, Monanimy, Rathcormack, Shanballymore, Skahanagh, Streamhill, Templemolaga and Wallstown. | 6 | |
| Kanturk–Mallow | Kanturk | Allow, Ardskeagh, Ballyhoolahan, Banteer, Barleyhill, Barnacurra, Bawncross, Boherboy, Castlemagner, Clonfert East, Clonfert West, Clonmeen, Coolclogh, Crinnaloo, Cullen (in the former Rural District of Millstreet), Derragh, Doonasleen, Dromina, Glenlara, Greenane, Kanturk, Keale, Kilbrin, Kilcorney, Kilmeen, Knockatooan, Knocknagree, Knocktemple, Meens, Milford, Milltown, Newmarket, Newtown, Rathcool, Rathluirc, Rosnalee, Rowls, Skagh, Springfort, Tullylease and Williamstown. | 4 |
| Mallow | Ballyclogh, Ballynamona, Blackpool, Buttevant, Caherduggan, Carrig (in the former rural District of Mallow), Castlecor, Churchtown, Dromore, Gortmore, Imphrick, Kilmaclenine, Kilshannig, Knockantota, Liscarroll, Mallow North Urban, Mallow Rural, Mallow South Urban, Nad, Rahan, Roskeen, Templemary and Tincoora. | 5 | |
| Macroom | Aghinagh, Aglish, An Sliabh Riabhach, Ballygroman, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (Maigh Chromta) (in the former Rural District of Macroom), Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (Dún Mánmhaí) (in the former Rural District of Dunmanway), Bealock, Caherbarnagh, Cannaway, Carrigboy, Ceann Droma, Cill na Martra, Claonráth, Clondrohid, Clonmoyle, Coomlogane, Doire Fhínín, Dripsey, Drishane, Firmount, Gort na Tiobratan, Gowlane, Greenfort, Greenville, Inchigeelagh, Kilberrihert, Kilbonane, Kilcullen, Macloneigh, Macroom Urban, Magourney, Mashanaglass, Mountrivers, Moviddy, Na hUláin, Rahalisk, Teerelton, Warrenscourt; and those parts of the electoral divisions of Ballincollig, Blarney, Carrigrohanebeg, Matehy and Ovens that are not contained within the City of Cork. | 6 | |
| West Cork | Bantry–West Cork | Adrigole, Aghadown North, Aghadown South, Ahil, Ballybane, Ballydehob, Bantry Rural, Bantry Urban, Bear, Bredagh, Caheragh, Cloghdonnell, Coolagh, Coulagh, Crookhaven, Curryglass, Douce, Dromdaleague North, Dromdaleague South, Dunbeacon, Dunmanus, Durrus East, Durrus West, Garranes, Garrown, Glanlough, Glengarriff, Goleen, Gortnascreeny, Kealkill, Kilcaskan, Kilcatherine, Kilcoe, Killaconenagh, Killeenleagh, Kilnamanagh, Lowertown, Mealagh, Milane, Scart, Seefin, Sheepshead, Skull, Toormore and Whiddy. | 4 |
| Skibbereen–West Cork | Ardfield, Argideen, Aultagh, Ballingurteen, Ballymoney, Bengour, Cahermore, Carrigbaun, Castlehaven North, Castlehaven South, Castletown, Castleventry, Cléire, Clonakilty Rural, Clonakilty Urban, Cloonkeen, Coolcraheen, Coolmountain, Derry, Drinagh (in the former Rural District of Dunmanway), Drinagh (in the former Rural District of Skibbereen), Dunmanway North, Dunmanway South, Kilfaughnabeg, Kilkerranmore, Kilmoylerane, Kilnagross, Kinneigh, Knocks, Knockskagh, Manch, Myross, Rathbarry, Rosscarbery, Rossmore, Shreelane, Skibbereen Rural, Skibbereen Urban, Teadies, Tullagh and Woodfort | 5 | |
Councillors
editThe following were elected at the 2019 Cork County Council election.
2019 seats summary
edit| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Gael | 20 | |
| Fianna Fáil | 18 | |
| Green | 2 | |
| Labour | 2 | |
| Sinn Féin | 2 | |
| Social Democrats | 1 | |
| Independent | 10 | |
Councillors by electoral area
editThis list reflects the order in which councillors were elected on 24 May 2019.
- Notes
Co-options
edit| Party | Outgoing | LEA | Reason | Date | Co-optee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fianna Fáil | Pádraig O'Sullivan | Cobh | Elected to the 32nd Dáil at the 2019 Cork North-Central by-election | February 2020 | Sheila O'Callaghan | |
| Fianna Fáil | James O'Connor | Midleton | Elected to the 33rd Dáil at the 2020 general election | February 2020 | Ann Marie Ahern | |
| Social Democrats | Holly Cairns | Bantry–West Cork | Elected to the 33rd Dáil at the 2020 general election | February 2020 | Ross O'Connell | |
| Fianna Fáil | Christopher O'Sullivan | Skibbereen–West Cork | Elected to the 33rd Dáil at the 2020 general election | February 2020 | Deirdre Kelly | |
| Social Democrats | Ross O'Connell | Bantry–West Cork | Resigned[14] | January 2024 | Chris Heinhold | |
| Labour | James Kennedy | Mallow | Resigned[15] | February 2024 | Eoghan Kenny | |
| Fine Gael | Gerard Murphy | Kanturk | Death of councillor | April 2024 | TBD | |
Changes in affiliation
edit| Name | LEA | Elected as | New affiliation | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Hayes | Skibbereen–West Cork | Sinn Féin | Independent | May 2020 | ||
| Karen Coakley | Skibbereen–West Cork | Fine Gael | Independent | April 2022 | ||
| Liam Quaide | Midleton | Green | Independent | April 2023[16] | ||
| Liam Quaide | Midleton | Independent | Social Democrats | November 2023[17] | ||
| Danielle Twomey | Midleton | Sinn Féin | Independent | December 2023[18] | ||
| William O'Leary | Fermoy | Fianna Fáil | Independent | March 2024[19] | ||
| Danny Collins | Bantry–West Cork | Independent | Independent Ireland | March 2024 | ||
References
edit- ^ "Council defends use of debt collectors". The Irish Examiner. 12 February 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
- ^ Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, s. 1: Establishment of county councils (61 & 62 Vict., c. 37 of 1898, s. 1). Enacted on 12 August 1898. Act of the UK Parliament. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
- ^ Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, s. 124: Commencement of Act (61 & 62 Vict., c. 37 of 1898, s. 124). Enacted on 12 August 1898. Act of the UK Parliament. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
- ^ "Orders declaring the boundaries of administrative counties and defining county electoral divisions: County of Cork". 27th Report of the Local Government Board for Ireland (Cmd. 9480). Dublin: Local Government Board for Ireland. 1900. p. 249.
- ^ "Cork County Hall: 50 years" (PDF). Cork County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ "Cork County Hall, Cork - Building #1351". www.skyscrapernews.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ Local Government Act 2019 (Transfer Day) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 25 of 2019). Signed on 30 January 2019. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 8 February 2020. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 March 2019.
- ^ Local Government Act 2019 (No. 1 of 2019). Enacted on 25 January 2019. Act of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 17 March 2019.
- ^ Cork Local Government Committee (September 2015). "Local Government Arrangements in Cork" (PDF). Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Merger of Cork councils to be in place for 2019 elections". Evening Echo. 7 September 2015. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
- ^ "Cork city to double in size taking in Ballincollig, Blarney and Carrigtwohill". Evening Echo. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014, Article 5 and Schedule 3 (S.I. No. 573 of 2014). Signed on 16 December 2014. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 4 May 2023.
- ^ County Of Cork Local Electoral Areas And Municipal Districts Order 2019 (S.I. No. 28 of 2019). Signed on 31 January 2018. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 18 March 2019.
- ^ "Social Democrats welcome new Councillor Chris Heinhold to Cork County Council". Irish Independent. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ Concubhar; Ó Liatháin (9 February 2024). "Mallow-based teacher to be co-opted to Cork County Council". echo live. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ "Cork councillor Liam Quaide to quit Green Party over Owenacurra closure". Irish Examiner. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Cork councillor Liam Quaide announces decision to join Social Democrats". Echo. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Cork councillor announces decision to leave Sinn Féin". Irish Independent. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Cork Fianna Fáil councillor leaves to run as independent, citing failure to listen to 'ordinary people'". The Irish Times. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.