Written answers

Tuesday, 22 April 2008

Department of Finance

Election Management System

9:00 pm

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 146: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the reason expenses totalling €780,000 were incurred by the returning officer for County Wicklow in the 2007 general election, whereas expenses totalling €428,797 were incurred by the returning officer in County Wexford which is a roughly similar sized five seat Dáil Éireann constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15482/08]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible for the policy and the legislative framework governing elections. Returning Officers are statutorily responsible for conducting the polls. I, as Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, have no direct role in the running of elections. However, I sanctioned a Schedule of Charges (Charges Order) which set out the scale of maximum charges for Returning Officers for the purpose of the General Election which was held on 24 May 2007. Section 32 of the Electoral Act 1992, as amended by Section 14 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001, sets out the statutory basis for the payment of expenses to Returning Officers in respect of Dáil elections. The Act allows for payments to Returning Officers in advance of the Election.

A sum of €780,000 was advanced to the Wicklow Returning Officer at her request to assist her in making the necessary arrangements for the holding of the 2007 Dáil Election. The account is now being finalised with a total claim of €434,235.88 which means a repayment of €345,764.12 to the Exchequer is being requested. A sum of €428,797.21 was advanced to the Wexford Returning Officer. This account is now being finalised with a total claim of €386,526.06. The Returning Officer has already repaid €36,306.79 to the Exchequer and is being requested to repay the balance of €5,964.36.

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