Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 854: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on reducing the voting age to 16 in view of the decision of the Manx Parliament on the Isle of Man; the measures he has put in place to increase interest amongst young people in democratic participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10215/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Each year, my Department undertakes an advertising campaign to coincide with the publication of the draft register of electors to encourage electors to check the draft and ensure that they are correctly registered. Over recent years, the advertising campaign has included elements specifically targeted at young people.

Electoral law has been amended on an ongoing basis to make voting more accessible to young people. Under the Electoral Act 1992, students who live away from home while attending college have the choice of being registered at their home address or their student residential address. The Electoral Act 1997 provides that students pursuing a course of study on a full-time basis at an educational institution in the State, who are registered at, but living away from, home and cannot attend their polling station, may apply for entry in the postal voters list. In addition, under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001, the grounds for making application for entry in the supplement to the register were widened to allow a person who reaches 18 years of age on or before polling day to apply for entry in the supplement to the register. Previously, the cut-off point was the closing date for the supplement.

In accordance with electoral law, a person must be 18 years of age in order to vote. This is consistent with the position in most countries, including the EU member states. While electoral law is subject to ongoing review, there are no proposals at present to reduce the voting age in Ireland.