Draft law sheds more light on role of new directly-elected Mayor of Limerick

THE FIRST directly-elected Mayor of Limerick will be required to prepare a programme setting out the key objectives and priorities for their term of office, it has been revealed.

The Mayoral programme must be published within four months of their election and the Mayor will be required to take account of the statutory obligations of Limerick City and County Council and any relevant Government policies or objectives which are in place at the time.

The Mayor of Limerick, who will be an ex officio member of the local authority, will be required to present a draft of the Mayoral programme for consideration by the elected council before it is agreed and published.

The proposed legislation to give legal effect to the new role has been published by the Government ahead of the return of the Dail next month.

If follows the plebiscite in 2019 which saw voters across the city and county narrowly endorse the establishment of the new office.

If the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 is passed by the Oireachtas and signed into law, the first directly-elected Mayor of Limerick will take office following next year’s local elections - in early June.

The Mayor will serve a five-year term and the draft legislation states that no mayor can serve for more than two terms.

While the proposed legislation does not address the costs associated with the new office, it states the Mayor of Limerick will be paid by Limerick City and County Council “with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform”.

While the local authority will pay any reasonably incurred expenses, funding for performance of functions of Mayor must be approved by the Oireachtas.

“In each financial year, the Minister shall advance to the Mayor out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas such amount or amounts as the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, determine for the purposes of expenditure by the Mayor in the performance of his or her functions under this Act.”

The proposed legislation confirms the Mayor of Limerick will have up to five dedicated staff, including one special advisor.

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“The Mayor may appoint a person who, in the opinion of the Mayor, has experience and expertise in relation to matters to which the functions of special adviser under this section relate, to be a special adviser to the Mayor,” states the proposed legislation.

The five staff will be employees of Limerick City and County Council who will be assigned by the council's Director General.

It is envisioned in the Bill that the Mayor of Limerick will be required, within two months of their election, to establish a committee to be known as the “Limerick Mayoral Advisory and Implementation Committee”.

This committee will be tasked with assisting the Mayor in the preparation of the Mayoral programme and will support the Mayor in advancing the Mayoral programme.

It is proposed the mayor will have the power to request reports and information from Government ministers and public bodies on matters which he/she believes will have an impact on Limerick or Limerick City and County Council.

To that end, following their election, the Mayor of Limerick will become a member of the Limerick Mayoral and Government Consultative Forum.

According to the draft legislation, this forum will also include every Government minister as a member.

The proposed legislation which runs to more than 150 pages, outlines the election procedure and what happens following the holding of the election.

The functions and responsibilities of the Mayor of Limerick are outlined as are the procedures for him or her leaving or being removed from office.

The Bill also outlines what will happen within Limerick City and County Council following the election.

For example, the position of CEO will be become that of Director General while the role of Cathaoirleach will be renamed as that Príomh Chomhairleoir.

All candidates who contest the mayoral election will be subject to ethics legislation and rules governing donations and expenditure.

The Bill proposes to set an expenditure limit of €72,100 for candidates who run in next year’s mayoral election.