Landmark progress for Limerick governance as Directly Elected Mayor legislation published

THE EAGERLY awaited legislation concerning Limerick's Directly Elected Mayor has been officially published this Thursday.

The release of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023, marks landmark progress for both Limerick city and county.

An election to fill the new role of Directly Elected Mayor is anticipated to be held in June of next year, simultaneously with the Local and European Elections, held between June 6 and June 9 2024.

Up to now, the election of the role of the Mayor of Limerick has been done among members in-house, with the winner serving a 12-month term.

Moreover, the newly published Bill includes provisions to conduct plebiscites in other local authority regions to gauge public opinion on whether to introduce a directly elected mayor in those areas as well.

Following the summer recess, the Bill will be presented to both houses of the Oireachtas for approval.

The people of Limerick had voted in the 2019 plebiscite to have a directly elected mayor, and the Bill was said to be addressed in the Dáil before summer recess.