Thousands of Ukrainian nationals who are in Ireland under the temporary protection scheme will be entitled to vote in the next local elections and field candidates, the Department of Housing and Local Government has confirmed.
The numbers of Ukrainian residents in some local electoral areas will have the potential to radically change the outcome in at least some of the State's 166 local electoral areas where there are high numbers of refugees.
In areas such as the Killarney LEA, where the number of Ukrainian adults is more than the 2019 electoral quota, some have already been approached by upcoming candidates to register in the expectation the large Ukrainian community will be still in Kerry in 2024.
There is also speculation that candidates from the Ukrainian community will go forward for election in Killarney.
Other areas with high numbers of Ukrainian nationals, equalling or extending over the quota, are the six-seater Kenmare area, and the seven-seater Tralee ward.
Some 8,000 Ukrainian nationals reside in Co Kerry, most of whom are of voting age.
Kerry County Council, which is currently updating its register of electors in advance of the local elections, says the Ukrainians will register in the category of Non-EU.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said the right to vote in local elections is set out in section 24 of the Local Government Act 2001, stating "a person shall be entitled to be registered as a local government elector in a local electoral area if he has reached the age of eighteen years and he is ordinarily resident in that area".
Accordingly, Ukrainian citizens resident in Ireland who might wish to vote in the next local elections would be advised to apply to the local authority in whose functional area they currently reside to include their names on the register of local government electors.
Further information on the register of electors is available from each local authority or, alternatively, online at checktheregister.ie, a department spokesman said.
Eligibility for membership of a local authority is also set out in the Local Government Act 2001.
The act provides that every person who is a citizen of Ireland or ordinarily resident in the State and has reached 18 years of age and is not subject to any of the disqualifications set out in the act (Section 13) is eligible for election or co-option to and membership of a local authority.
"So, as long as non-nationals are resident they are entitled to stand for election to and be a member of a local authority,' the department spokesman said.
