Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce changes to the Litir um Thoghcháin to make significant savings to the taxpayer; the amount this service has cost in each election since 2007; the number of candidates who chose not to avail of this service in the 2011 general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32461/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Costs arising from this facility are met from the Central Fund by the Department of Finance, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which has provided the following information on the costs incurred in each election since 2007.

There were 566 candidates in the 2011 Dáil general election. Under section 57(1) of the Electoral Act 1992, each candidate is entitled to one postal communication free of postal charges. Under section 57(4), where two or more candidates at a Dáil election are candidates of the same political party they are regarded as one candidate for the free postage facility. Accordingly, there would only be one free posting per constituency in the case of candidates of the same political party. I understand that the facility was availed of as follows by political parties in the 2011 Dáil general election Fianna Fáil 43; Fine Gael 43; Labour 43;Green Party 41; Sinn Féin 33 and that 118 independent candidates also availed of it.

While I have no immediate plans to change the provisions in electoral law on the entitlement of candidates to send certain items to voters free of postage costs, the 'Litir um Thoghcháin' facility will be considered as part of the ongoing review of electoral legislation.