How the co-option process works
It’s not unusual for local councillors to run in General Elections. If they join the Dáil, their seat on the council needs to be replaced. Here's how the process works.
In the past, politicians could hold a “dual mandate,” meaning they could serve on both a local council and in the Dáil at the same time. But this changed about 20 years ago with the Local Government (No. 2) Act 2003. Since then, councillors must give up their council seat if they are elected to the Dáil.
When a council seat becomes vacant for this reason, it’s filled through a process called co-option.
According to this process, the political party of the outgoing councillor nominates someone to take the seat. The new councillor is officially appointed through a council resolution and they serve until the next local election.
If the outgoing councillor was not part of a political party then the replacement is co-opted according to the council’s standing orders.
Learn more:
- Find out more about the elected council in our elected council article.
- Details about how candidates can run in local elections are in our local elections article.