KILDARE: Tidy Towns groups to have say over where election posters are put up

Tidy Towns groups in the Naas area are to be asked to identify areas they would like to keep free of election posters.

Councillor members of the Naas Municipal District have asked that the groups be contacted - with the aim of capping the number of posters to be erected.

They will also be asked to identify areas they would like to ensure are kept poster free.

The move comes in advance of the elections to councillors and European Parliament, due to take place in 2024.

It follows a similar initiative in 2019 when the last local elections were last held.

Tidy Towns groups in Naas, Sallins, Kill and Caragh responded with suggestions.

Naas Tidy Towns asked that posters not be put up in residential areas, main streets or the ring roads.

According to Kildare County Council official Ken Kavanagh It should be noted that this would be an “informal” agreement which cannot be enforced. 

“It should also be noted that there may be candidates who are not current councillors who may or may not comply with the suggested proposal,” he added in a report.

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Posters may only be erected for a certain specified time period before an election.

This time period is either 30 days before the poll date or from the date the polling day order for the election has been made - whichever provides the shorter period of time. Posters must be removed within seven days of polling day.

There is also legislation relating  to maintaining clear lines of sight for road users which may impact on where posters can be placed - such as not on road signs, at traffic junctions or on roundabouts, where they may cause road safety risks.