Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount granted to a local authority in respect of a project (details supplied); if he has satisfied himself that a proper job was done on this register. [43423/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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. These measures included the provision of additional ring-fenced financial resources to support local authorities' own spending in respect of the register campaign and authorities were advised that a contribution of some €6 million can be made available in this regard. €3 million (€92,000 to Mayo County Council) was paid to local authorities in July and a further €2.1 million (€106,109 to Mayo County Council) in register funding is being paid to authorities this month.

Local authorities have carried out an extensive and intensive campaign in respect of the Draft Register for 2007/8, with the information available indicating both significant numbers of additions (379,394) to, and deletions (505,042) from, the Register. Final figures regarding the number of additions to and deletions from the Register will not be known until authorities and County Registrars have completed their work and the final register is published in February. However, on the basis of the work already undertaken, I am satisfied there will be significant improvement in the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register.