Written answers

Wednesday, 18 February 2009

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Election Management System

8:00 pm

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the date for the introduction of the cap on local election spending in view of his recent announcement; the spending limits; the applicable period and the framework which will be introduced to monitor spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6508/09]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I will shortly publish a Bill to introduce spending limits, which will be in force for the local elections that are scheduled to take place on 5 June 2009. For the 34 County and City Councils, a sliding scale with four separate spending limits, based on the population within each individual electoral area, will apply. A top limit of €15,000 will apply in the most populated electoral areas, with a population of 32,501 persons or over. A limit of €13,000 will apply in the county and city council electoral areas where the population is between 22,501 and 32,500 persons. A limit of €11,500 will apply to county and city council electoral areas with a population of between 12,001 and 22,500 persons. The lowest limit of €9,750 will apply to county and city council electoral areas with a population of 12,000 persons, or less. Given their different administrative responsibilities, a standard spending limit will apply to all 80 of the Borough and Town Councils. Candidates standing for election to these local authorities will be subject to a spending limit of €7,500 in all cases.

The spending limits for local elections will apply to individual candidates in the first instance. Candidates nominated by a political party will be deemed to automatically allocate 10% of their limit for use by the party's National Agent. However, there will be scope to vary this figure upwards or downwards by written agreement between the candidate and the party.

It is intended that spending by candidates and political parties on the election campaign in the 60 days leading up to polling day will be covered under the new scheme of spending limits.

While there were previously no limits on local election expenditure, under the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999, all local election candidates were required to submit a declaration of campaign expenditure, and the source of the funds to meet that expenditure. I propose to build upon these provisions. It is envisaged that candidates will continue to submit spending returns as they have done heretofore, but will be required to comply with the new spending limits.

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 5 February 2009, the local authorities which are to pilot test the new measures in regard to election postering; if participation in the scheme will be on a voluntary basis both for local authorities and for candidates; if the local authorities and the candidates have been notified; if participation in the test scheme will have an impact on the proposed election spending limits; if the proposed options represent the full extent of proposals to regulate election postering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6510/09]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Details on participating local authorities have yet to be finalised. My Department is liaising with the County & City Managers Association in this regard, and details of participating local authorities and the specific pilot schemes they intend to introduce will be made available when finalised.

Participation in the pilot schemes will be voluntary both for local authorities and for candidates and it is not intended that participation will have any impact on the proposed spending limits. The proposed options outlined are some of those identified through the public consultation process, and pilot testing of these options is viewed as the most suitable means of identifying any potential problems in regard to implementation or enforcement, prior to legislation being introduced in order to ensure that the final legislation is as effective as possible.

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