At a glance
| Councillor | TD | Senator | MEP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sits in | A county, city or city and county council | Dáil Éireann | Seanad Éireann | European Parliament |
| Number | 949 | 174 | 60 | 14 from Ireland |
| Elected by | Local voters, PR-STV | Constituency voters, PR-STV | Panels, university graduates, Taoiseach nominees | Voters in 3 EU constituencies, PR-STV |
| Term | 5 years | Up to 5 years | Until the next Seanad election | 5 years |
| Main work | Local budget, development plan, bye-laws | National laws, holding the Government to account | Reviewing and delaying Bills | EU laws and budget |
| Ask about | Roads, parks, council housing, local planning | Health, welfare, tax, national law | Legislation and policy | EU rules and funding |
What a councillor does
Councillors were elected on 7 June 2024 across 31 local authorities. They vote on the council’s annual budget, its development plan and bye-laws. They do not run the council day to day: the chief executive and staff do. That is why planning applications and council housing allocations are decided by officials, not by councillors.Irish local government explained.
In Limerick, voters also elected Ireland’s first directly elected mayor in 2024. Elsewhere, mayors are chosen by councillors from among themselves, and the role is largely ceremonial.
What a TD does
TDs make national laws, vote on the Budget, question Ministers and decide who leads the Government. The Taoiseach and Ministers are all drawn from the Oireachtas. TDs also handle constituency casework, raising problems people have with State bodies.What is a TD?.
What Senators and MEPs do
Senators debate and amend Bills, can delay legislation for a limited time, and come from a wide range of backgrounds. They cannot bring down a Government.TD vs Senator.
MEPs represent Irish voters in the European Parliament, which co-decides EU laws and the EU budget with national governments. Ireland has 14 MEPs across three constituencies: Dublin, Midlands–North-West and South.How EU law reaches Ireland.
Who should I contact?
| Issue | Start with |
|---|---|
| Pothole, streetlight, park, bins | Your councillor or the council |
| Council housing list or planning application | Your councillor, who can raise it with the council |
| Social welfare, HSE or a national State body | Your TD |
| Tax, immigration or national policy | Your TD |
| A Bill going through the Oireachtas | Your TD or a Senator |
| EU rules, funding or fisheries | An MEP |
The lines blur, and many representatives will pass your issue on. Choose the closest tier and be specific.How to contact your TD.
How and when is each one elected?
All four are elected, but by different voters and on different timetables. Only TDs and MEPs are chosen directly by the general public in national-style elections; Senators are mostly chosen by other politicians and university graduates.
| Who votes | Most recent election | |
|---|---|---|
| Councillors | All adult residents, whatever their nationality | Local elections, June 2024 |
| TDs | Irish and British citizens resident in Ireland | General election, 29 November 2024 |
| Senators | TDs, Senators, councillors and some university graduates; 11 nominated by the Taoiseach | Seanad election, early 2025 |
| MEPs | Irish and other EU citizens resident in Ireland | European elections, June 2024 |
Common mix-ups
Common assumption: My councillor can approve my planning application.
In fact: Council officials decide applications under the development plan. Councillors vote on the plan itself, not on individual cases.
Common assumption: Senators represent a county like TDs do.
In fact: Senators have no constituency. Most are elected to vocational panels or by university graduates.
Common assumption: MEPs can change Irish law directly.
In fact: MEPs vote on EU laws. Directives then have to be written into Irish law by the Oireachtas or a Minister.
Common assumption: Contacting all of them at once gets faster results.
In fact: It usually creates duplicate work. Start with the tier that is actually responsible and be specific.