Law Department

Property-Based Services

Conveyancing services are provided to the Housing and Sanitary Department, the Estates and Development Department and the National Roads Office. These services typically involve the buying, selling and letting of residential and commercial properties, as well as land acquisition for major road schemes. Two thirds of the County Council's legal staff are involved in property-based services, largely on a full time basis.

Code Enforcement

The Council is charged with the enforcement of various regulatory codes under EU directives, primary and secondary legislation. These codes typically involve the following:

• Planning
• Building control
• Fire safety
• Environmental issues (including waste management, litter and air pollution)
• Animals
• Housing/landlords and tenants
• Sanitary/dangerous structures
• Derelict sites

Judicial Review

Judicial Review is a process whereby a member of the public or a body affected by executive judicial and administrative decisions can challenge that decision. This is a developing area of Irish jurisprudence, and all such applications are made to the High Court in the first instance. This work is largely undertaken by Senior Executive Solicitors and Executive Solicitors.

Debt Collection

Financial recovery services are supplied to divisional collection offices and to the Finance Department. File preparation is done by legal assistants, while advocacy services are provided by solicitors on staff to the Rates and Finance departments.

Advisory Services

Advisory services are furnished to all Council departments under the direction of the County Solicitor.