Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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112. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reduce or limit the use of election posters for future elections or referendums; if he has considered the matter; the number of posters and plastic it is estimated was used nationwide in the 2014 local and European elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24937/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department held a public consultation on the control of postering for elections and referenda in Autumn 2008. Following on from this, a number of measures, including restricting the number of posters per candidate and the display of posters in designated areas only, were pilot-tested during the 2009 Local and European Elections. Local authorities were also canvassed for their views on these measures.Several local authorities indicated that any restriction on the number of posters per candidate would be difficult to police effectively. There were also concerns that restricting the number of posters per candidate would favour larger parties with several candidates running, while restricting the number of posters per party would disadvantage candidates with running mates. Furthermore, there were concerns that any such measures would disadvantage first-time candidates and thus interfere with the democratic process. Other concerns included the diverse geographical nature of constituencies, e.g. small urban versus large rural electoral districts.

As a result, no measures were introduced to restrict the number of posters at that time. However, section 19(7) of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 was amended by the Electoral (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2009, to introduce a 30-day time limit prior to an election taking place, during which election posters can be displayed. Prior to this amendment, the relevant legislation had required that election posters be taken down within 7 days of an election but provided no time limit for the period prior to an election within which posters could be displayed. While not dealing directly with the number of election posters on display, this legislation ensures that posters are only displayed for a finite and reasonable period. Accordingly, I have no plans to restrict the number of election posters permitted at this time. The erection and removal of election posters is a matter for candidates and their supporters. My Department does not collect information regarding the number of posters erected at elections.