Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if, in view of the possible change in scheduled date for the eight election of representatives to the European Parliament on 22 to 25 May 2014, he is considering changing the date of the next scheduled elections for local authority representatives to coincide with the former; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14383/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the Council of the European Union is consulting with the European Parliament at present, and in advance of the Council making a decision, in relation to holding the 2014 elections to the European Parliament in the period 22-25 May 2014. Under section 26 of the Local Government Act 2001, the poll at local elections must be held every fifth year in the month of May or June. While no decision has yet been taken in relation to the date for the local elections in 2014, the practice since 1999 has been to hold them on the same day as elections to the European Parliament.