In the wake of the Local Elections 2024, the Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, Alan Dillon, has announced funding of €182,200 to Women For Election, a national, not-for-profit, non-partisan organisation that works to help achieve full representation of women in Irish politics. 

Minister Dillon said: “Women for Election supports potential female candidates through training, capacity building events and mentoring supports, and has helped substantial numbers of women become involved in politics at both national and local level.” The organisation’s work focuses on equipping and supporting women to enter and succeed in political life, as well as raising awareness to reduce the systemic barriers faced by women in the political sphere.

Representing another step forward in terms of women’s representation in Irish local government, a record 681 female candidates contested the Local Elections on 7 June (31% of the overall number of candidates). Current figures also indicate an almost doubling of candidates from a migrant background since 2019, increasing the diversity of the council chambers in Ireland.

While this year’s local elections saw a further increase in women candidates elected, the Minister said there is still a way to go before we see balanced gender representation. “The work of organisations like Women for Election is instrumental in continuing to build on the momentum gained by women candidates this year,” he added.

The funding announcement forms part of an ongoing programme of Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage initiatives aimed at increasing the representation of women and people of diversity in Irish local government. The department also runs funding schemes targeting political parties and local authorities, alongside support for local and regional level women’s caucuses.

View Local Election Results to see Women Elected by Local Electoral Area.