Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the expected cost of the Children's Referendum including a breakdown of such costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48985/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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There is a provision of €3 million in the Vote of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs relating to the cost of holding a Constitutional Referendum on Children’s Rights.

Of this €3m, the Department has allocated €1.9 million to the Referendum Commission for the performance of its statutory functions. The breakdown of this amount will become available when the Referendum Commission’s report on the Children’s Referendum is published.

The balance of €1.1 million is being used to fund the Department’s public information activities. The breakdown of the actual expenditure of this figure will be provided directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The cost of holding the actual poll will be met, as is the case with all referendums, by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government from the Central Fund.