John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to inform Deputy Casey that franchise is probably one of the most important sections in any Department because it is about voting, which concerns us all. The section is very small. There are only about eight people in the unit located in Customs House because the compilation of the register is the responsibility of local authorities. The franchise section effectively becomes an electoral commission once a referendum, a presidential or, indeed, a general election is called. The funding that was allocated in the figures for last year principally concerns the fact that there was a court challenge to the outcome of the children's referendum in 2012. The bill of costs was budgeted for in anticipation that it would be presented but that has not happened yet. That is the main reason for the difference between what was budgeted for in the outturn figure. There is ongoing work, mostly in the Department's offices in Wexford, on the establishment of an electoral commission that would ultimately subsume the role of the franchise section when it is established.

Deputy O'Dowd asked about local government reform. The reports on local government reform, that are part of the programme for Government, principally concern urban governance reform of electoral areas and municipal districts in county councils, and also the possibility of directly elected mayors. The reports have not been completed but I have been told that they will be completed at the end of this week or the start of next week and once I have them they will be published. I am sure they will form the basis for debate if the Business Committee allocates it for the Dáil and Seanad.

The boundaries for local elections is on the Cabinet agenda. I hope that the matter will be dealt with next week in advance of local elections in 2019.