Local authorities coordinate youth councils which give young people under the age of 18 the chance to get involved in the development of policy and local services and discuss issues that affect them such as homelessness, mental health, physical health, cyber health and bullying.
Local authorities, together with An Garda Síochána (national police), elected representatives and community and voluntary groups, may set up and support committees to discuss local policing issues. These issues include crime, public disorder and antisocial behaviour and recommend ways to help reduce crime and improve public safety.
Local authorities manage local elections where successful candidates are elected to the council to represent their community as councillors for five years.
Local authorities prepare plans to identify electoral areas, electoral divisions, polling districts and townlands for Dáil (national parliament) and local elections, and the appointed polling place for each polling district. You can have an input into the plans through consultation.
Local authorities may provide community and voluntary groups, schools and businesses marking machines to stamp an Eircode into valuable items such as printers, tablets, power tools and generators to prevent theft and help An Garda Síochána (national police) return stolen items if recovered.
Local authorities set up and support networks to encourage registered community, voluntary, social inclusion and environmental groups to take part in the council's decision-making and policy making processes, and to monitor local authority activities.
Local authorities publish a public register of all eligible and registered people entitled to vote in local, national and European elections and referenda.
Local authorities publish guides in Irish, English and some European languages to explain how the Irish voting system works and how the public can to exercise their right to vote.
Local authorities, together with Irish Water Safety, may run lifesaver training courses, beach lifeguard academies, and safe swimming and boating campaigns to promote water safety on public beaches, lakes and waterways.