Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the person who determines the amount paid to those who work at polling and count centres at election time; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many of these workers are on holiday leave from public sector jobs to do this paid work. [37589/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Prior to an election, it is a statutory requirement that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform prepare a scale of maximum charges for returning officers setting out the approved levels of fees and permissible expenditure in connection with election work. This includes the fees payable to staff working in polling centres and on the election count. Once this order is signed, Dáil and Local Returning Officers' can draw down advances for their expenses and, post election, they submit detailed accounts.

Local returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referendums, including the selection, appointment and training of polling station and count staff in accordance with the relevant provisions of electoral law. It is the responsibility of Returning Officers, who undertake the disbursement of public funds at elections/referendums, to achieve value for money for the services and expenses incurred and to comply with Public Procurement Guidelines as appropriate.

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, whose primary role in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system, assists returning officers, by issuing guidance to them in advance of each election and referendum. The guidance emphasises that the smooth conduct of polls is dependent on maintaining a cadre of sufficiently skilled and experienced people. Having regard to that overall objective, returning officers are advised to employ competent and efficient persons as polling staff and asked to give consideration, where possible, to employing suitable persons who are unemployed.