Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 584: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will engage with local authorities with a view to making available on request a list of the voters being deleted from the electoral register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38934/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 586: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will extend beyond 25 November 2006 the deadline to accept requests for amending the Draft Register of Electors in view of the difficulties being experienced by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39000/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 587: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the procedures he had put in place for people who were illiterate and could not read any notification regarding the deletion of their names from the Register of Electors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39001/06]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 597: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has carried out an audit or is otherwise satisfied that the detailed procedures for the carrying out of fieldwork for the compiling of the Register of Electors were complied with and in particular the procedure providing that each household in the State was visited at least twice if necessary and provided with forms and information. [39055/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 584, 586, 587 and 597 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; house to house or other sufficient enquiries must be made for this purpose.

In April 2006, I announced a package of measures to assist local authorities in their work on preparing the 2007/8 Register, which included the use of Census enumerators or other temporary personnel to support local authorities in preparing the Register; over 1,500 personnel were engaged in this work. In addition, my Department worked with a group of local authority managers and senior officials to put in place an enhanced programme for improving the next Register. Detailed procedures for the carrying out of registration fieldwork were finalised and issued to local authorities in early July. The procedures included provision for ensuring that each household was visited at least twice and provided with forms and information, if necessary. In the event that this process did not satisfactorily register the household, written notification would then be given cautioning of the danger of being omitted from the Register.

I also committed to providing additional ring-fenced financial resources to support local authorities' own spending in respect of the register campaign and 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. A national publicity and awareness campaign involving TV, radio, press and outdoor advertising commenced on 11 September. Implementation by local authorities of the measures which I announced in April has resulted in the most extensive electoral registration campaign in decades. The provision for extensive house to house enquiries would have been of particular assistance to persons with literacy difficulties.

The process is not finished. The Draft Register of Electors has been published by all local authorities and is available for checking in council offices, libraries, Garda stations, post offices and online at www.checktheregister.ie. The Final Register will be published on 1 February and comes into force on 15 February. Anyone not on the Final Register can apply for inclusion on the supplementary register which is open up to 15 days before polling day.

Rule 6 of the Second Schedule to the Electoral Act 1992 sets out those persons to whom copies of the Draft Register must be sent by local authorities. It is a matter for authorities to decide upon any requests that may be made to them for further information regarding the Draft Register, taking all relevant factors into account.

In relation to the need for further time to allow the public to submit corrections to the Register, I have now received requests from a number of local authorities seeking some additional time to complete their work. I have already stated that I would consider any such requests for time extensions sympathetically. Rather than confine the extension to the 3 councils that have to date sought an extension, I have decided to provide an extension of time to all councils to complete their work on the register up until 29 December.

In these circumstances I have also decided to give an additional fortnight to members of the public for submitting corrections to their council up until 9 December. I have also decided to request councils to hold registration clinics in council offices and public libraries up until 9 December to further facilitate the public. I will be providing for these changes by way of amendment to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006, now before the Dáil. There will also be a number of consequential changes to the dates County Registrars to complete their work on the Register. However, the final date for entry into force of the new register will remain unchanged, i.e. 15 February 2007.