Limerick looks set to vote for its first-ever directly elected mayor next summer.

Cabinet today approved legislation for a directly elected mayor for Limerick.

Ministers also decided that the election should be held at the same time as the Local and European elections in early June 2024.

The new mayor will be given ‘significant powers’ and junior minister Kieran O’Donnell said the vote will ensure “the people of Limerick to have a greater say over how services and infrastructure are delivered and how Limerick develops”.

“This is a key milestone on the way to having the first directly elected mayor in Ireland and is one the most significant reforms of local government since the foundation of our state, with Limerick leading the way,” said Minister O’Donnell.

The people of Limerick voted in favour of a directly elected mayor by a margin of 52.4% in 2019.

The Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 aims to establish the office of mayor and its mayoral functions and a code for the election.

It also includes provision for plebiscites in other local authority areas on the question of whether to directly elect a mayor.

“The directly elected mayor will take on many of the executive functions which currently rest with the chief executive and will also take on a host of new functions, supported by a budget to implement the mayor’s programme and priorities,” said Minister O’Donnell.

“This legislation … provides a major opportunity for Limerick to forge an enhanced local government. There is huge potential to develop service delivery and accountability locally, and to add value for all the people of Limerick.”

He said he now looks forward to working with colleagues across the Oireachtas to get the legislation passed and pave the way for a 2024 election.

The legislation will be published in the coming days.