Local Government Act, 2001

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Changing of name of townland or non-municipal town situated wholly within one county or city.

190.—(1) In this section “non-municipal town” means an area, not being a city or town, which is designated a town in the report of the census of population which is for the time being the latest census of population.

(2) Where a townland is situated wholly within one county or city, or a non-municipal town is situated wholly within one county, the county council or city council concerned, as appropriate, 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 to a proposed new name of such townland or non-municipal town.

(3) The area of the non-municipal town to which the proposal referred to in subsection (2) relates shall be described in that proposal whether by reference to a map or otherwise.

(4) Where a county council or city council adopts a proposal under subsection (2) it shall—

(a) notify such persons as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under section 196 of the proposal and such persons shall be entitled to make submissions in writing to the council concerned 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.

(5) Following compliance with subsection (4) the county council or city 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 (2), or

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

(c) not to proceed with the original proposal.

(6) Where the county council or city council has made a decision under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (5), the county council or city 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 townland or non-municipal town concerned to the proposed new name as set out in the original proposal or amended proposal as the case may be.

(7) Where a majority of the qualified electors consent to the proposed new name the Cathaoirleach of the local authority concerned shall make a declaration confirming such consent and specifying the proposed new name and the date on which, in accordance with subsection (9), it comes into operation.

(8) A declaration made by the Cathaoirleach of a local authority under subsection (7) shall be in such form as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under section 196 .

(9) A proposal confirmed by declaration under subsection (7) comes into operation—

(a) 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

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

(10) Every declaration made under subsection (7) 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.

(11) Every declaration under subsection (7) shall be published in the Iris Oifigiúil, as soon as possible after its making.

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