Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to amend or introduce legislation to provide for a set frequency for local electoral area reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29110/07]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will appoint a commission to review the local area boundaries in advance of the 2009 local elections particularly in the context of the demographic shifts since the last review in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29111/07]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he will take to correct the large democratic deficit in some local electoral areas due to under-representation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29112/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 to 194, inclusive, 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 due to take place in 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. There are no current proposals for legislation in this area.