Brainstorm | Opinion, Analysis, Reports, Features

5 takeaways from the local and European elections

Here are some of the trends which have emerged from the votes cast by the Irish people

Ballot boxes have opened across the country. What happens to your vote now?

New boundaries mean no other local election constituency will have as large a bearing on the upcoming general election as Arklow and Gorey

An estimated 2,169 candidates will be contesting the local elections this year, across 166 constituencies

In the run-up to local elections, what services do local authorities provide, how are they funded, and what is their financial position?

Irish local newspapers and radio stations perform many vital roles, including asking critical questions of all candidates in local elections

Local election contests are an important bellwether of how political parties and groupings are faring in the run-up to the next general election

If you're in Galway, there's a spend of €586 per person on housing, while Longford spends €447 per head on roads

Migrants make up 12% of the population here but are vastly underrepresented in local politics for a variety of reasons

Ahead of the local elections, it is important to inform ourselves of the key spending and tax decisions at local authority level