Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the fact that many young persons are being taken off the voters' register if they stay a number of nights in a city or large town where they work to avoid commuting for long hours but come home each weekend or on other days off, in view of the fact that these young persons regard their permanent address as home and have no social or cultural attachment to the areas in which they work. [6091/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Electoral Act 1992 entitles anyone who has reached the age of eighteen years and who is ordinarily resident in the constituency to which the register relates to be registered as an elector in that constituency. The preparation of the electoral register is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register.

Section 11 of the Electoral Act 1992 provides that where a person appears to be eligible for registration in two or more registration areas, the registration authorities involved should take steps to ensure that a person is not registered in respect of more than one such registration area. Section 11 also provides that a person is deemed not to have given up ordinary residence if he or she intends to resume residence within eighteen months after giving it up. A written statement by a person that he or she intends to resume residence within eighteen months after giving it up will, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be accepted by registration authorities as a correct statement.