Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Perhaps Mr. Carroll or Mr. McShea can answer my question. A constituent brought it up with me that when their son turned 18 years, he was taken off the child benefit. The children’s allowance was stopped. What they could not understand was why he did not automatically go on to the electoral register so that he could vote. When the election came last year, he was not able to vote. He was 19 years at that stage. One of the things I have asked for, and this obviously goes hand in hand with data protection, is to look at how we can use PPS numbers and to see how the Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Social Protection can link in to ensure the register is accurate. The other issue was the age at which people are able to vote. What are witnesses’ thoughts on that?