Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of polling stations, on a county basis, which are wheelchair accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21060/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Under electoral law, returning officers are responsible for all matters in relation to the conduct of elections, including the provision of polling stations. The information requested is not available in my Department.

The law provides that local authorities, in making polling schemes, shall endeavour to appoint polling places which allow the returning officer to provide at each place at least one polling station that is accessible to wheelchair users and requires that the returning officer shall, where practicable, provide polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair users. The returning officer must also, where practicable, give public notice of all polling stations which are inaccessible to wheelchair users not later than the eighth day before polling day. If an elector will have difficulty gaining access to his or her polling station, he or she may apply in writing to the returning officer for authorisation to vote at another polling station in the same constituency/local electoral area. My Department has advertised the availability of this facility in the context of the elections on 5 June.

If a person has a physical illness or physical disability which prevents him or her from going to the polling station, the person can vote by post if he or she applies to be included in the postal voters list which is drawn up each year as part of the register of electors. In order to be entered on the postal voters list, the person must apply to the appropriate local authority by 25 November each year. After that date, an application for inclusion on the supplement to the postal voters list may be made. The closing date for receipt of such supplement applications in respect of the elections to be held on 5 June was 15 May.