Bye-Election Dublin Central 2026
NOTICE OF POLL
BYE ELECTION 2026
CONSTITUENCY OF DUBLIN CENTRAL
Take Notice that, pursuant to a writ issued to me by the Clerk of Dáil Éireann, I will take a poll on 22nd May, 2026, between the hours of 07:00am and 10:00pm to elect 1 members of Dáil Éireann for this constituency.
The names and descriptions of the candidates standing nominated and of their proposers (if any), and the order in which they will appear on the ballot paper, are set out hereunder.
Tabhair faoi deara, de bhun eascaire a d'eisigh Cléireach Dháil Éireann domsa, go dtógfaidh mé vótaíocht an 22ú Bealtaine, 2026, idir na huaireanta 07:00am agus 10:30pm chun Teachta Dála amháin a thoghadh don dáilcheantar seo.
Tá ainmneacha agus tuairiscí na n-iarrthóirí atá ina seasamh agus a dtogróirí (más ann dóibh), agus an t-ord ina dtaispeánfar ar an bpáipéar ballóide, leagtha amach thíos.
| BOYLAN | SINN FÉIN (Janice Boylan, of [Address redacted for privacy] Public Representative) |  |
| CORRIGAN | NON-PARTY (Tony Corrigan, of [Address redacted for privacy] Solicitor) |  |
| ENNIS | SOCIAL DEMOCRATS (Daniel Ennis, of [Address redacted for privacy] Public Representative) |  |
| FLOOD | NON-PARTY (Colm Joseph Flood, of [Address redacted for privacy] Student) |  |
| FLYNN | NON-PARTY (Mannix Flynn, of [Address redacted for privacy] Artist/Writer) |  |
| HORNER | GREEN PARTY/COMHAONTAS GLAS (Janet Horner, of [Address redacted for privacy] Public Representative) |  |
| HUTCH | (Gerard Hutch, of [Address redacted for privacy] Consultant) |  |
| MCADAM | FINE GAEL (Ray McAdam, of [Address redacted for privacy] Lord Mayor) |  |
| O CEANNABHAIN | PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT - SOLIDARITY (Eoghan O Ceannabhain, of [Address redacted for privacy] Musician) |  |
| O'DEA | THE LABOUR PARTY (Ruth O'Dea, of [Address redacted for privacy] Community Worker) |  |
| O'LEARY | NON-PARTY (John O'Leary, of [Address redacted for privacy] Businessman) |  |
| SMYTH | AONTÚ (Ian Noel Smyth, of [Address redacted for privacy] Architect) |  |
| STEENSON | NON-PARTY (Malachy Steenson, of [Address redacted for privacy] Solicitor) |  |
| STEPHENS | FIANNA FÁIL (John Stephens, of [Address redacted for privacy] Hospital Administrator) |  |
Returning Officer: Joseph Burke
Date: 2nd May 2026
The polling scheme for the May 2026 Bye-Election in Dublin Central is available by clicking on the link below. The polling scheme lists each polling place which will be used for the Bye-Election and shows which portions of the electoral register are assigned to each polling place.
The Dublin Central bye-election count is scheduled to take place on 23 May 2026 in Halls 8A and 8B, Simmonscourt, Simmonscourt Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. The Dublin City Returning Officer will issue media passes to accredited journalists, photographers, and camera crew members for access to the RDS Simmonscourt Count Centre on the day of the count.
There will be a designated entrance for media pass holders and a dedicated area within the Count Centre for all accredited media personnel. There will also be a dedicated area for interviews and photography. To ensure compliance with health and safety requirements, interviews and photography of candidates or other persons of interest will only be permitted in this designated area.
All media pass holders are required to comply with any instructions issued by the Returning Officer or his staff in the Count Centre.
Joseph Burke
Dublin City Returning Officer
CONSTITUENCY OF DUBLIN CENTRAL
Pursuant to a writ issued to me by the Clerk of Dáil Éireann I am about to proceed to the election of 1 member of the Dáil for this constituency.
Nomination papers may be obtained from the address below during the usual office hours or may be downloaded from this website.
A person may nominate himself/herself as a candidate or may, with his/her consent, be nominated by a proposer who is registered as a Dáil elector in the constituency.
A nomination paper from a candidate of a registered political party must have a certificate of political affiliation attached which must be produced to me with his/her completed nomination paper.
If no certificate is attached, the candidate must, before the latest time for receiving nominations, either-
- secure 30 assents to the nomination by way of statutory declarations by Dáil electors registered in the constituency (forms available from my office or website below or the registration authority), or
- make a deposit of €500 (deposit may also be made on the candidate’s behalf).
Details of these requirements are set out in the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2007.
The latest time for receiving nominations is 12 noon on the 1st day of May 2026.
Completed nomination papers may be delivered to me in person by the candidate or his/her proposer at any time when I am at my office, from 10am on the 28th day of April 2026 until 12 noon on the last day for receiving nominations.
I am required by law to attend to receive nominations between 10am and 12 noon and between 2pm and 5pm on the 30th day of April 2026, and between 10am and 12 noon on the 1st day of May 2026.
If the election is contested, a poll will be taken on the 22nd day of May 2026 between the hours of 7 am and 10 pm.
Joseph Burke
Returning Officer
54 Fitzwilliam Square North
Dublin 2
Date: 24th April 2026
Dublin Central Bye-Election 22nd May 2026
Nominations Check List
The process of nominations is governed by the Electoral Act, 1992, as amended
(in particular as amended by the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2007)
General
- Nomination Forms are available on this website and from 54 Fitzwilliam Square North, Dublin 2 during usual office hours.
- Completed hardcopy nomination papers may be submitted to the Returning Officer at 54 Fitzwilliam Square North, Dublin 2 from: 10am Tuesday, 28th April until 12 noon on Friday, 1st May.
- The Office of the Returning Officer takes no responsibility for nominations not properly submitted before 12 noon Friday, 1st May, 2026.
- The latest time for withdrawals is 12 noon on Saturday, 2nd May, 2026.
- Nominations will be processed by appointment. To schedule an appointment email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 01 6759015
Requirements
Political Party
- A person may nominate himself/herself or be nominated by a registered elector in the constituency as Proposer.
- Declaration to be signed by Candidate or Proposer.
- Certificate of political affiliation.
- SIPO details of Candidate and Agent.
- A good quality digital photograph together with two identical printed copies 35mm X 45mm.
Non-Party
- Same as for Political Party Candidate but no need for certificate of political affiliation
- Deposit of €500 OR
- 30 Assents
- Each Assentor must be on the Electoral Register for the constituency.
- Each Assentor must complete a statutory declaration in the prescribed form which includes the polling number and polling district letters confirming his/her being on the register.
- Each Assentor will require photographic ID such as a passport or driving licence.
STRONG Recommendations:
- Please email a copy of the completed Nomination Papers to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at least 24 hours in advance of appointment. Do not arrange to submit the nomination papers on the last day as if there is a difficulty the Candidate may not have time to amend any defects. - In advance of the appointment with the Returning Officer, a Non-Party Candidate availing of the Assentor procedure should ensure that the 30 Statutory Declarations are completed by the Assentors at the Dublin City Council Office in the presence of an authorised official of the Registration Authority (Contact 01 2225010 to speak with a member of the Register of Electors Team or email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This ensures that the process can be completed within the one hour available to the Returning Officer as set out by Statute.
Joseph Burke
Returning Officer
Prospective candidates for the Dublin Central bye-election, being held on 22nd May 2026, can download the various forms required to register their nomination from the link below.
Candidate Nomination Forms for a Dáil Election
Please note that while these forms can be prepared in advance they cannot be accepted by the Returning Officer until the start of the official nomination period which will only be known when the election has been called. Details of the dates and times available for submission of nomination forms will be published on this website once known.