Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will give a detailed breakdown on a county basis with respect to the cost of the recent electoral register campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38023/06]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the Electoral Register on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38082/06]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will use his powers under Section 164 of the Electoral Act, 1992 which allows him to make a special order to change a regulation in order to amend the deadline for registration to the Electoral Register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38083/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 250, 252 and 253 together.

In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register.

In April 2006, I announced a package of measures to assist local authorities in their work on preparing the 2007/8 Register. This included a commitment to provide additional ring-fenced financial resources to support local authorities' own spending in respect of the register campaign; I advised authorities that a contribution of some €6 million can be made available in this regard. An initial allocation of some €3 million, based on the number of households in each local authority area, was made available in July to local authorities for registration work; details of allocations are set out in the following table.

I am satisfied that the implementation by local authorities of the measures which I announced in April has resulted in the most extensive electoral registration campaign in decades. However, the process is not finished. The Draft Register of Electors has been published by all local authorities and is available for checking up to the 25 November in council offices, libraries, Garda stations, post offices and on-line at www.checktheregister.ie. Local authorities must publish the final Register of Electors for 2007/8 on 1 February 2007. Summary data from all local authorities regarding the Draft Register have been compiled by my Department and are also set out in the following table.

As indicated above, people have up to 25 November to make claims for corrections to the Draft Register. While it has been suggested that this period should be extended, I am not convinced that there is a need to do so, particularly given the level of public attention now being given to the registration process, and the alternatives that are already available for people to get on the register. Should a cogent case to extend the period involved be made by any local authority, which has the primary responsibility in this area, I would of course give detailed consideration to the matter, taking into account the relevant legislative provisions.