Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Malcolm Byrne for raising this issue. I have to declare an interest in that my children lobbied me this week to try to have their school included. Unfortunately, it is not, but they would certainly like to have their school included as one of the polling centres.

I know the issue of how our elections and referendums are run is prominent as we prepare for the holding of two referendums this Friday, 8 March, that on the Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023, and that on the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023. The primary role of the Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, local returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referendums. In accordance with section 94 of the Electoral Act 1992, this includes the provision of a sufficient number of polling stations, conveniently distributed for the accommodation of the electors entitled to vote there.

Electoral law provides that a returning officer may, for the purposes of taking a poll and counting the votes, use a school or any room in a school free of charge. Guidance issued to returning officers by the Department in advance of electoral events advises that when schools are used as polling stations, every step should be taken to ensure that schools are not closed unnecessarily and that disruption of school work should be kept to a minimum. The guidance advises that, where possible, school halls should be used instead of classrooms and that voting compartments and other equipment should be fitted up and dismantled after school hours. The guidance also advises that it is open to returning officers to hire a hall or other premises if they consider it to be appropriate, so there is flexibility. It is important to note that the wide distribution of schools around the country helps to fulfil the requirement under electoral law to provide polling stations conveniently distributed for the accommodation of electors.

Given the week that is in it, I would like to use this opportunity to thank returning officers and their staff throughout the country for their hard work and dedication in ensuring that polling happens in every polling district and constituency. The logistical work in ensuring the taking of a poll for an electorate of some 3.4 million people should not be underestimated. I also acknowledge the flexibility and facilitation shown by school principals, teachers, staff and parents in facilitating the use of schools for polling. This facilitation can come at an inconvenience for schools and I thank all involved for their co-operation.

I will come back in again with a supplementary response. The Senator has made some valid points, specifically in regard to Saturday and Sunday voting, to which the Electoral Commission will refer when it publishes its research programme following the public consultation that took place earlier this year. The Senator himself asked whether it would increase turnout. It may not and different jurisdictions have had different experiences with it. There is a regular review of polling places following electoral events. I have met disability and access groups with regard to accessibility and ensuring that polling stations are fully accessible. We want to ensure that we can have maximum participation in all of our electoral events, which is the premise of this Commencement matter.