Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1154: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that adequate arrangements are in place for voters with impaired vision in Dáil and Seanad, including university panels, elections, and if he has proposals in this regard. [20932/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Under section 103 of the Electoral Act 1992, a voter in a Dáil general election whose sight is so impaired or who is otherwise so physically incapacitated or who is unable to read or write to such an extent that the person is unable to vote without assistance, may, on request, have their ballot paper marked by a companion or a presiding officer at a polling station.

Under section 22 of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937, and section 51 of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947, voting in a Seanad general election is carried out by way of a postal ballot. Although voters must sign a declaration of identity which accompanies the ballot paper in the presence of a witness (who is personally known to them in the case of university voters or a specified witness in the case of panel voters), there is no specific provision in Seanad electoral law with regard to assistance for voters with a visual impairment. While electoral law is subject to on-going review, there are no proposals at present to alter the existing arrangements.