The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment.

The county administration is headed by a chief executive, Coilín O'Reilly.

In the case of Carlow County Council, it recommended a decrease to 18 seats.

[18][19] The council subsequently moved further north along Athy Road into modern premises which are now known as the County Buildings.

[20] Carlow County Council has two representatives on the Southern Regional Assembly who are part of the South-East Strategic Planning Area Committee.

[21] Members of Carlow County Council are elected for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote from multi-member local electoral areas.