Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 451: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that there is only a 48 hour window after an election for students to register for a postal vote, his plans to change legislation in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28417/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Postal voting is provided for in respect of certain categories of person as specified in electoral law. Electors who are eligible for, but not already included on, the postal voters list may apply for entry on the supplement to this list and they can do this at any time. However, in accordance with electoral law, applicants must apply for inclusion on the supplement to the postal voters list not later than two days after the dissolution of the Dáil, in the case of a general election, or two days after the polling day order is made, in the case of other elections or referendums, if they wish to avail of a postal vote at that election or referendum.

While electoral law is subject to ongoing review, I have no proposals at present to change existing arrangements for inclusion in the supplement to the postal voters list. Conscious of the timeframe involved, my Department advertises the relevant supplement dates whenever there is an electoral event. In the recently held referendum on the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, the polling day order was made on 30 April 2012 and the closing date for the supplement to the postal voters list was 2 May, 2012. My Department notified advertisements to the print media immediately on the making of the polling day order and these were widely published on 1 May 2012.