Speculation over vacated council seat in Kilkenny
Peter 'Chap' Cleere has been elected as a new TD in Carlow-Kilkenny, so there is a seat on the local authority to fill!
Speculation is mounting as to who will be co-opted to fill the seat on Kilkenny County Council vacated by Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere following his election as a TD to Dáil Éireann after General Election 2024.
Matt Doran, who served as a county councillor in Kilkenny for 22 years before stepping down earlier this year, is amongst the names being touted.
Ultimately, the decision will be made by the Fianna Fáil party and it remains to be seen what role Chap will play in those discussions.
Co-option is where a vacancy arises at local government level and that vacancy is filled locally.
This can happen for a number of reasons including resignation and election to Dáil Éireann.
At Dáil level, where a vacancy occurs, there would have to be a by-election, but not at council level.