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

-----too concrete about the Department of Justice and Equality's responsibility other than to say that the Senators have raised issues that were raised in the Dáil and outside of it. We have flagged the issue with the Department. The officials are aware of it and have indicated that they will act but it is a matter for them as to when.

In terms of the role that is played at elections, local authorities are responsible for the holding of the election for the local authority area. These changes will not have an effect in that regard but we have flagged the issue. Local government boundaries are not just political boundaries for the local authorities. They are often boundaries for education, sometimes health, the policing boards that Senator McDowell introduced during his time in office, coroners and sheriffs. We have indicated to the Department that it needs to consider the matter and make sure that the county boundary matches the boundaries for sheriffs and coroners. The Department has indicated that it will do so but I do not have a definitive time period for when that will happen.