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Uimhir 8 de 1948.
AN tACHT UM THOGHCHÁIN ÁITIÚLA, 1948.
[An tiontó oifigiúil]
[4ú Meitheamh, 1948.]
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn an abairt “údarás áitiúil” aon chomhlucht acu seo a leanas:—
(a) comhairle chontae,
(b) bardas contae-bhuirge nó buirge eile,
(c) comhairle cheantair uirbigh,
(d) coimisinéirí baile;
tá leis an abairt “an bhliain toghcháin áitiúil” an bhrí a bheirtear di i mír (b) d'fho-alt (1) d'alt 2 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn an abairt “an tAire” an tAire Rialtais Áitiúil.
(2) D'ainneoin aon ní san alt seo, déanfar tagairt san Acht seo do chruinniú, do chomhalta nó do chomhaltas údaráis áitiúil a léiriú, nuair is bardas contae-bhuirge nó buirge eile an t-údarás áitiúil a bhíos i gceist, mar thagairt do chruinniú, do chomhalta nó do chomhaltas den chomhairle a bunaíodh le dlí i leith na contae-bhuirge nó na buirge eile sin.
Trátha toghchán d'athrú.
2.—(1) (a) Faoi réir forál an Achta seo, déanfaidh an tAire, roimh an 30ú lá de Mheán Fómhair, 1950, le hordú, lá nach déanaí ná an 30ú lá sin de Mheán Fómhair, 1950, a cheapadh, i leith gach údaráis áitiúil, chun bheith ina lá ceaptha chun toghchán a chomóradh do chomhaltaí an údaráis áitiúil sin agus comórfar an toghchán sin dá réir sin.
(b) Is sa bhliain chéanna (dá ngairmtear an bhliain toghcháin áitiúil san Acht seo) a bheas an lá ceaptha, i leith gach údaráis áitiúil.
(c) Is tuigthe gach toghchán den tsórt sin a bheith ina thoghchán trí-bhlianach agus cinnfear dá réir sin na trátha chun toghcháin trí-bhlianacha ina dhiaidh sin a chomóradh.
(2) Ní comórfar toghchán do chomhaltaí údarais áitiúil idir dháta an Achta seo a rith agus dáta an toghcháin de bhun fo-ailt (1) den alt seo, agus déanfar faidiú dá réir sin ar an téarma oifige a bheas á chaitheamh, ar dháta an Achta seo a rith, ag comhaltaí an údaráis sin.
(3) Ní dhéanfaidh aon ní san alt seo difir do Chuid IV den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil, 1941 (Uimh. 23 de 1941), ná d'aon ordú arna dhéanamh faoin gCuid sin.
Forála i gcás comhaltaí a bheith arna gcur as oifig ar dháta an Achta seo a rith.
3.—I gcás comhaltaí údaráis áitiúil a bheith arna gcur as oifig ar dháta an Achta seo a rith agus toghchán do chomhaltaí an údaráis áitiúil a chomóradh sa bhliain 1948, ar lá arna shocrú le hordú faoi Chuid IV den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil, 1941 (Uimh. 23 de 1941), beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas d'ainneoin aon ní san Acht seo ná in aon Acht eile:
(a) an lá a socrófar amhlaidh, is cead gur lá ar bith nach déanaí ná an 31ú lá de Nollaig, 1948, a bheas ann,
(b) is tuigthe an toghchán a comórfar sa bhliain 1948 a bheith ina thoghchán trí-bhlianach,
(c) ní gá don Aire, mura cuí leis é, lá a cheapadh, faoi fho-alt (1) d'alt 2 den Acht seo, chun toghchán a chomóradh do chomhaltaí an údaráis áitiúil sin,
(d) mura gceapann an tAire lá amhlaidh, is tuigthe, chun na trátha a chinneadh do chomóradh toghchán tríbhlianach ina dhiaidh sin, an toghchán a comórfar sa bhliain 1948 a bheith arna chomóradh sa bhliain toghcháin áitiúil.
Forála i gcás coimisinéirí nua baile.
4.—I gcás an tAire dá ordú le hordú faoin alt seo, go ndéanfar an chéad toghchán faoi alt 21 den Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1854, do choimisinéirí baile a chomóradh lá éigin, sa bhliain 1948 nó 1949, a sonrófar san ordú, beidh éifeacht ag na forála seo a leanas d'ainneoin aon ní san Acht seo nó in aon Acht eile:
(a) comórfar an toghchán an lá a sonrófar amhlaidh,
(b) is tuigthe an toghchán a bheith ina thoghchán tríbhlianach,
(c) ní gá don Aire, mura cuí leis é, lá a cheapadh, faoi fho-alt (1) d'alt 2 den Acht seo, chun toghchán a chomóradh do na coimisinéirí sin,
(d) mura gceapa an tAire lá amhlaidh, is tuigthe, chun na trátha a chinneadh do chomóradh toghchán tríbhlianach ina dhiaidh sin, an chéad toghchán a bheith arna chomóradh sa bhliain toghcháin áitiúil.
Toghchán nua do chomhaltaí Bhord Cúnaimh Bhaile Atha Cliath.
5.—I gcás toghchán do chomhaltaí Bhord Cúnaimh Bhaile Atha Cliath a chomóradh de bhun fo-ailt (2) d'alt 6 den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil (Baile Atha Cliath), 1945—
(a) más ar laethe difriúla a toghfar na comhaltaí, tiocfaid go léir i seilbh oifige an lá i ndiaidh an lae a toghadh an té is déanaí dhíobh a toghadh,
(b) na comhaltaí a toghfar ag Ard-Mhéara Ró-Onórach, Seanóirí agus Buirgéisigh Bhaile Atha Cliath, sa bhliain 1948, toghfar iad ag cruinniú de Chomhairle Chathrach Bhaile Atha Cliath a comórfar laistigh de mhí i ndiaidh lae an toghcháin sa bhliain 1948 do chomhaltaí Chomhairle Chontae Bhaile Atha Cliath.
Téarma oifige comhaltaí áirithe de chomhluchta áirithe.
6.—(1) Baineann an t-alt seo leis na comhaltaí sin, de bhord nó de choiste nó de chomhlucht eile ar gá do réir dlí go gceapfadh comhairle chontae nó chontae-bhuirge gach comhalta nó aon chomhalta de i gcionn gach trí mblian, a ceapadh ag comhairle chontae nó chontae-bhuirge agus a bhfuil a dtéarmaí oifige á gcaitheamh acu ar dháta an Achta seo a rith.
(2) An téarma oifige a bheas á chaitheamh, ar dháta an Achta seo a rith, ag na comhaltaí sin lena mbaineann an t-alt seo, leanfaidh sé, i gcás ina rachadh sé in éag níos túisce mura mbeadh an t-alt seo, go dtí an lá a comórfar an chéad chruinniú bliantúil nó, i gcás contae-bhuirge, an chéad chruinniú ráithiúil, tar éis an toghcháin de bhun ailt 2 den Acht seo don chomhairle a cheap na comhaltaí sin.
(3) Gach amhras, ceist agus díospóid i dtaobh cé acu atá nó nach bhfuil aon chomhalta áirithe d'aon bhord, coiste nó comhlucht eile ina chomhalta lena mbaineann an t-alt seo, is é an tAire a chinnfeas é agus beidh a chinneadh sin air sin ina chinneadh críochnaitheach, do-sháruithe.
Cosaint ar dhícháiliú i gcásanna áirithe.
7.—Aon chomhalta d'údarás áitiúil a scoirfeas de bheith ina thoghthóir rialtais áitiúil i líomatáiste feidhmiúcháin an údaráis de bhíthin clár nua de thoghthóirí rialtais áitiúil a theacht i bhfeidhm tar éis dáta an Achta seo a rith agus roimh dháta toghcháin do chomhaltaí den údarás de bhun ailt 2 den Acht seo, ní bheidh sé dícháilithe, de dheasca an scortha sin amháin, chun leanúint i seilbh oifige mar chomhalta den údarás go dtí an gnáthlá a rachadh comhaltaí an údaráis as oifig i ndiaidh an toghcháin sin.
An bhliain toghcháin i gcóir coistí gairm-oideachais.
8.—Athghairmtear leis seo alt 24 den Acht um Thoghcháin Áitiúla, 1937 (Uimh. 14 de 1937), agus ina ionad sin achtaítear leis seo chun críocha na nAcht Gairm-Oideachais, 1930 go 1947,—
(a) maidir le gach comhairle chontae, chontae-bhuirge nó cheantair uirbigh agus gach coiste gairm-oideachais, go mbeidh an bhliain toghcháin áitiúil ina bliain toghcháin agus go mbeidh gach tríú bliain as a chéile i ndiaidh na bliana sin ina bliain toghcháin freisin, agus
(b) i gcás coiste ghairm-oideachais a gceaptar gach comhalta nó aon chomhalta de ag údarás áitiúil a bhfuil a chomhaltaí arna gcur as oifig ar dháta an Achta seo a rith, go mbeidh an bhliain 1948 ina bliain toghcháin freisin maidir leis an gcoiste sin agus le gach údarás áitiúil a cheapas comhaltaí den choiste sin.
An bhliain toghcháin i gcóir coistí talmhaíochta.
9.—Athghairmtear leis seo alt 25 den Acht um Thoghcháin Áitiúla, 1937 (Uimh. 14 de 1937), agus ina ionad sin achtaítear leis seo—
(a) maidir le gach comhairle chontae agus gach coiste talmhaíochta, go mbeidh an bhliain toghcháin áitiúil ina bliain toghcháin chun críocha an Dara Sceidil a ghabhas leis an Acht Talmhaíochta, 1931 (Uimh. 8 de 1931), agus go mbeidh gach tríú bliain as a chéile i ndiaidh na bliana sin ina bliain toghcháin freisin chun na gcríocha sin, agus
(b) i gcás coiste thalmhaíochta a gceaptar a chomhaltaí ag comhairle a bhfuil a comhaltaí arna gcur as oifig ar dháta an Achta seo a rith, go mbeidh an bhliain 1948 ina bliain toghcháin freisin chun na gcríocha sin maidir leis na gcoiste sin agus leis an gcomhairle sin.
An bhliain toghcháin i gcóir údarás áirithe cuain.
10.—I gcás feidhme míre (b) d'fho-alt (2) d'alt 9 den Acht Cuanta, 1946 (Uimh. 9 de 1946), maidir le húdarás cuain a mbeidh Cuid II den Acht sin i ngníomh maidir leis ar dháta an Achta seo a rith, déanfar an tagairt don chéad bhliain eile ina gcomórfar toghcháin do chomhaltaí comhairlí contae i ndiaidh na céadbhliana toghcháin a léiriú mar thagairt don bhliain toghcháin áitiúil.
Achtacháin d'oiriúnú.
11.—(1) Gach reacht, ordú agus rialachán a bhaineas le toghcháin do chomhaltaí aon údaráis áitiúil nó le cruinnithe aon údaráis áitiúil, is faoi réir forál an Achta seo a bheas éifeacht aige, agus féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, pé oiriúnuithe nó modhnuithe a dhéanamh ar aon reacht, ordú nó rialachán acu sin is dóigh leis is gá chun go mbeidh éifeacht aige do réir an ailt seo.
(2) Gach ordú a déanfar faoin alt seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífeas an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú a leagadh faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an orduithe, beidh an t-ordú ar neamhní dá réir sin, ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin ordú.
Gearrtheideal.
12.—Féadfar an tAcht um Thoghcháin Áitiúla, 1948, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Number 8 of 1948.
LOCAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1948.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Provisions where members stand removed from office at passing of this Act. | |
Acts Referred to | |
No. 23 of 1941 | |
No. 14 of 1937 | |
No. 8 of 1931 | |
No. 9 of 1946 | |
Number 8 of 1948.
LOCAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1948.
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act—
the expression “local authority” means any of the following bodies:—
(a) the council of a county,
(b) the corporation of a county or other borough,
(c) the council of an urban district,
(d) the commissioners of a town;
the expression “the local election year” has the meaning given to it in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 2 of this Act;
the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Local Government.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, a reference in this Act to a meeting, member or membership of a local authority shall, where the local authority in question are a corporation of a county or other borough, be construed as a reference to a meeting, member or membership of the council established by law in respect of such county or other borough.
Alteration of times for elections.
2.—(1) (a) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Minister shall, before the 30th day of September, 1950, by order appoint in respect of every local authority a day not later than the said 30th day of September, 1950, to be the appointed day for the holding of an election of members of that local authority and such election shall be held accordingly.
(b) The appointed day in respect of every local authority shall be in the same year (in this Act referred to as the local election year).
(c) Every such election shall be deemed to be a triennial election and the times for the holding of subsequent triennial elections shall be determined accordingly.
(2) An election of members of a local authority shall not be held between the passing of this Act and the election pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, and the term of office of the members of such authority current at the passing of this Act shall be extended accordingly.
(3) Nothing in this section shall affect Part IV of the Local Government Act, 1941 (No. 23 of 1941), or any order made under that Part.
Provisions where members stand removed from office at passing of this Act.
3.—Where the members of a local authority stand removed from office at the passing of this Act and an election of members of the local authority is held in the year 1948 on a day fixed by order under Part IV of the Local Government Act, 1941 (No. 23 of 1941), the following provisions shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in this or any other Act:
(a) the day so fixed may be any day not later than the 31st day of December, 1948,
(b) the election held in the year 1948 shall be deemed to be a triennial election,
(c) it shall not be necessary for the Minister, unless he so thinks fit, to appoint, under subsection (1) of section 2 of this Act, a day for the holding of an election of members of such local authority,
(d) unless the Minister so appoints a day, the election held in the year 1948 shall be deemed, for the purposes of determining the times for the holding of subsequent triennial elections, to be held in the local election year.
Provisions in case of new town commissioners.
4.—Where the Minister by order under this section directs that the first election under section 21 of the Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1854, of the commissioners of a town shall be held on a day in 1948 or 1949 specified in the order, the following provisions shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in this or any other Act:
(a) the election shall be held on the day so specified,
(b) the election shall be deemed to be a triennial election,
(c) it shall not be necessary for the Minister, unless he so thinks fit, to appoint, under subsection (1) of section 2 of this Act, a day for the holding of an election of such commissioners,
(d) unless the Minister so appoints a day, the first election shall be deemed, for the purposes of determining the times for the holding of subsequent triennial elections, to be held in the local election year.
New election of members of Dublin Board of Assistance.
5.—Where an election of members of the Dublin Board of Assistance is held pursuant to subsection (2) of section 6 of the Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1945—
(a) where the members are elected on different days, they shall all come into office on the day after the last elected of them were elected,
(b) the members elected by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Dublin, in the year 1948 shall be elected at a meeting of the City Council for Dublin held within one month after the day of election in the year 1948 of the members of the Council of the County of Dublin.
Term of office of certain members of certain bodies.
6.—(1) This section applies to those members of a board, committee or other body, all or any of the members of which are required by law to be appointed triennially by the council of a county or a county borough, who were appointed by the council of a county or a county borough and whose terms of office are current at the passing of this Act.
(2) The term of office current at the passing of this Act of those members to which this section applies shall, where apart from this section it would expire earlier, continue until the day on which is held the annual meeting, or in the case of a county borough, the quarterly meeting, next after the election pursuant to section 2 of this Act to the council by whom such members were appointed.
(3) Every doubt, question and dispute as to whether any particular member of any board, committee or other body is or is not a member to whom this section applies shall be determined by the Minister whose decision thereon shall be final and conclusive.
Savings from disqualification in certain cases.
7.—A member of a local authority who ceases to be a local government elector in the functional area of the authority by reason of the coming into force of a new register of local government electors after the passing of this Act and before an election of members of the authority pursuant to section 2 of this Act shall not, by reason only of such cesser, be disqualified from continuing to hold office as a member of the authority until the ordinary day of retirement of the members of the authority after such election.
Election year for vocational education committees.
8.—Section 24 of the Local Elections Act, 1937 (No. 14 of 1937), is hereby repealed and in lieu thereof it is hereby enacted for the purposes of the Vocational Education Acts, 1930 to 1947, that—
(a) in relation to every council of a county, county borough or urban district and every vocational education committee, the local election year shall be an election year and every third successive year after that year shall also be an election year, and
(b) in the case of a vocational education committee all or any of whose members are appointed by a local authority whose members stand removed from office at the passing of this Act, the year 1948 shall also be an election year in relation to such committee and every local authority who appoint members of such committee.
Election year for committees of agriculture.
9.—Section 25 of the Local Elections Act, 1937 (No. 14 of 1937), is hereby repealed and in lieu thereof it is hereby enacted that—
(a) in relation to every council of a county and every committee of agriculture, the local election year shall be an election year for the purposes of the Second Schedule to the Agriculture Act, 1931 (No. 8 of 1931), and every third successive year after that year shall also be an election year for the said purposes, and
(b) in the case of a committee of agriculture whose members are appointed by a council whose members stand removed from office at the passing of this Act, the year 1948 shall also be an election year for the said purposes in relation to such committee and such council.
Election year for certain harbour authorities.
10.—In the application of paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 9 of the Harbours Act, 1946 (No. 9 of 1946), to a harbour authority in relation to whom Part II of that Act is in operation at the passing of this Act, the reference to the year in which elections of members of councils of counties are held next after the first election year shall be construed as a reference to the local election year.
Adaptation of enactments.
11.—(1) Every statute, order and regulation relating to elections of members of any local authority or to the meetings of any local authority shall have effect subject to the provisions of this Act, and the Minister may by order make such adaptations or modifications in any such statute, order or regulation as may in his opinion be necessary to enable it to have effect in accordance with this section.
(2) Every order under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either House, within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Short title.
12.—This Act may be cited as the Local Elections Act, 1948.