Local authorities support the Cathaoirleach (chair person) and mayor by managing invitations to functions, hosting delegations and civic receptions, and supporting the official business of the office.
Local authorities support councillors in their role as elected representatives and policy makers by providing information about day to day local authority services, responding to questions and notices of motion, and supporting their work on council committees.
Local authorities provide information and advice to the public, community and voluntary groups, business owners and schools about fire safety and prevention, fire regulation, building standards, and fire and emergency response.
Local authorities may charge those who benefit from the response of the fire service to domestic and commercial fires, chimney fires, road traffic accidents and false alarm incidents.
Local authorities provide information and advice to those interested in becoming fulltime or retained firefighters including details of the application requirements and recruitment process.
Local authorities manage local elections where successful candidates are elected to the council to represent their community as councillors for five years.
Local authorities coordinate the roll out of the Government's National Broadband Plan by working with telecommunications companies to deliver broadband services and encourage the take up of high speed connectivity.
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 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.