Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 587: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when current district electoral divisions for the purpose of the census were last reviewed; if he will carry out a review of the same in view of the change in the pattern of development across Ireland in the past few decades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24788/07]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 616: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the proposed commission in relation to local electoral areas will mean the change of local electoral boundaries; and if not, if local representatives or representation within existing boundaries will change. [25334/07]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 622: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will alter local electoral boundaries prior to the next local elections; if so, when he will do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25445/07]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 623: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the next local elections will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25446/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 587, 616, 622 and 623 together.

Unlike for Dáil and European Parliament constituencies, there are no legal requirements in relation to the frequency of local electoral area reviews. The last review of local electoral areas was carried out in 1998; the next local elections are required under the terms of section 26 of the Local Government Act 2001 to take place in May or June 2009. I am at present considering the issues around a review of local electoral areas and I expect to be in a position to make a statement on the matter shortly.

The last significant revision of electoral divisions was carried out in 1994. There are no current proposals to undertake a review of electoral divisions.