Local Government Act, 2001

Changing of name of town.

189.—(1) A town council may by resolution, for which at least one-half of the total number of members of the council vote in favour, adopt a proposal to change the name of the town to a proposed new name.

(2) Where a town council adopts a proposal under subsection (1) it shall—

(a) notify such persons as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Minister of the proposal and such persons shall be entitled to make submissions in writing to the council within a period of 2 months from the date of the notification, and

(b) publish a public notice of the proposal inviting submissions with regard to it from any person concerned within a period of 2 months from the date of the public notice, and

(c) consider any submissions received.

(3) Following compliance with subsection (2), the town council may by resolution, for which at least one-half of the total number of members of the council vote in favour, decide—

(a) to proceed with the proposal (in this section referred to as the “original proposal”) in accordance with the resolution under subsection (1), or

(b) to proceed with a proposal (in this section referred to as the “amended proposal”) to change the name of the town to such other name as it considers appropriate, or

(c) not to proceed with the original proposal.

(4) Where the town council has made a decision under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (3), the town council shall seek, in accordance with regulations made by the Minister under section 196 , the consent of the majority of the qualified electors in the town concerned to the proposed new name as set out in the original proposal or amended proposal as the case may be.

(5) (a) Where a majority of the qualified electors consent to the proposed new name the Cathaoirleach of the town council concerned shall make a declaration, in a form prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under section 196 , confirming such consent and specifying the proposed new name and the date on which, in accordance with paragraph (b), it comes into operation.

(b) A proposal confirmed by declaration under this subsection shall come into operation—

(i) on the 1st day of January next following the date of such declaration where the interval between the date of the declaration concerned and the 1st day of January is not less than 3 months, or

(ii) in any other case, on the first anniversary of the said 1st day of January.

(c) Every declaration made under this subsection shall be published in the manner prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under section 196 and shall be notified to such persons as may be so prescribed.

(d) Every declaration under this subsection shall be published in the Iris Oifigiúil, as soon as possible after its making.

(6) Section 196 applies to this section, as appropriate.