Brian Walsh (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 536: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he anticipates that changes to local electoral boundaries or the number of elected members on local authorities will be effected in advance of the local elections in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26162/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Unlike for Dáil constituencies, there are no constitutional or statutory requirements in relation to the frequency of local electoral area boundary reviews. The most recent reviews of local electoral areas were carried out in 1998 and 2008. The June 2009 local elections took place on the basis of the local electoral areas enacted following the 2008 review.

The Constituency Commission which I established in July 2011 must present its report on Dáil and European Parliament constituencies to the Chairman of the Dáil no later than 29 June 2012. Following the publication of that report and having regard to its recommendations on Dáil constituencies, and any related subsequent decisions by the Oireachtas, I will give consideration to arrangements for the review of local electoral areas. I will also have regard to the final results of Census 2011 and to Government decisions on local government reform including the establishment of unified local authorities in Limerick and Tipperary.