Plans for directly elected mayors in Dublin are being put in motion.
Voters in Cork and Waterford narrowly rejected the idea in separate plebiscites this weekend.
However, the plebiscite in Limerick was passed by 52.4% to 47.6% - with the Government claiming it gives the county an opportunity to "get ahead".
Minister of State for Local Government and Electoral Reform, John Paul Phelan, said there are now plans for Dublin too.
Speaking in the Dáil today, he explained: "The issue of directly elected mayors is not gone off the agenda at all.
"Government will in the next couple of weeks making a decision in relation to the Citizens' Assembly on the Dublin area.
"Limerick itself will be the test ground in terms of establishment of the position of directly elected mayor."
He added that he believes the idea will also be "revisited" in Cork and Waterford "in the near future".
Minister Phelan's comments come after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pledged yesterday that Dublin was next following last Friday's votes:
Pleased that Limerick has voted to have Ireland’s first Directly Elected Mayor. Real opportunity for the city & county to get ahead. Will be backed by central government. Sorry it was narrowly defeated in Cork and Waterford. Dublin next.
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) May 27, 2019
Under the Government's proposals, directly elected mayors would take over a 'significant amount' of executive functions currently performed by councils' chief executives.
They'd also represent local authority areas at local, national and international level.
A mayor's salary would be similar to that of a minister of state (currently €129,854).
