Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Hogan, who is unavoidably absent. I thank Deputy McLoughlin for raising this important issue which is of interest to all Members.

One of the duties that fall on a returning officer at elections and referenda is to provide a sufficient number of polling stations at every polling place for which he or she is responsible. Polling places normally will be a village or some other population centre. The returning officer is required to locate polling stations as conveniently as possible for use by the electorate in each polling place. Where, for one reason or another, a sufficient number of polling stations cannot be provided at the appointed polling place, the returning officer can arrange for polling stations at another location.

In selecting locations, the traditional approach has been to use schools. This is understandable given their central location in most communities, and especially so in rural areas over the years where a viable alternative to the local school would have been difficult to find. In these challenging economic times, it is also worth noting that the use of any school for the taking of a poll or counting of votes is free of charge where the school is in receipt of a State grant. Nonetheless, returning officers are not obliged to use schools. In guidance issued by the Department, returning officers are advised that they may hire a hall or other premises if they consider this would be a more suitable arrangement in a particular case. This is the case even if there is a school available for use in that area.

Returning officers must be also mindful of the need to provide access to polling stations. As the Deputy mentioned, they should be accessible for those with disabilities. The returning officer is obliged, where practicable, to provide polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair use. This has seen a shift to more modern buildings, including modernised schools, being used as polling stations where stricter building regulation requirements have addressed this issue.

Returning officers have good knowledge and experience, built up over many years, on the location and use of suitable premises, and they review that on an ongoing basis. In many cases, buildings other than schools are used. They have generally ensured that when it comes to elections and referenda, one should have the opportunity to vote in a convenient location.

As regards a special audit of current polling stations, what would be important is that the public representatives in a county, Dáil Deputies and others, would be in a position to identify directly with their returning officers where the issues arise locally. If Deputy McLoughlin were to copy the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with the correspondence, if it was not being addressed to the satisfaction of the public, we would certainly deal with that issue.

The final matter Deputy McLoughlin raised relates to who is employed and how they are selected. I agree that there must be transparency and accountability and I would presume in the first instance a query to each returning officer would be the appropriate way to seek that information. That information should be available. The public has a right to expect that those who are unemployed, competent and qualified should be given priority if possible.

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