The mandatory holding of local elections every five years is the key provision of the 20th amendment to the Constitution, which will go before voters on June 11th, the same day as the European and local elections.
The Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Danny Wallace, who introduced the legislation paving the way for the referendum in the Oireachtas, said over the years local elections had been deferred at different times by different governments, sometimes for lengthy periods. "Such deferral has served to devalue our system of local government," he added.
The amendment, which also gives statutory recognition to local authorities in the centenary year of local government, is being supported by all political parties. Canvassers in the European and local elections have been instructed to seek a Yes vote in the referendum.
The electorate will be asked to vote Yes or No on the inclusion of the following Article 28A in the Constitution:
1. The State recognises the role of local government in providing a forum for the democratic representation of local communities, in exercising and performing at local level powers and functions conferred by law and in promoting by its initiatives the interests of such communities.
2. There shall be such directly elected local authorities as may be determined by law and their powers and functions shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, be so determined and shall be exercised and performed in accordance with law.
3. Elections for members of such local authorities shall be held in accordance with law not later than the end of the fifth year after the year in which they were last held.
4. Every citizen who has the right to vote at an election for members of Dail Eireann and such other persons as may be determined by law shall have the right to vote at an election for members of such of the local authorities referred to in section 2 of this Article as shall be determined by law.
5. Casual vacancies in the membership of local authorities referred to in section 2 of this Article shall be filled in accordance with law.
The Referendum Commission will spend about £750,000 on an information campaign. In line with the Referendum Act of last year, it will present arguments in favour and against the proposal in newspaper notices. These arguments will be based on submissions received from individuals and organisations who wish to express their views on the amendment.
An estimated 50,000 information documents will be available to the public in libraries, citizens' information centres, post offices and Garda stations.
