Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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595. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the electoral register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26544/15]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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596. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding an online registration system for the electoral register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26545/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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631. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his views on a position paper (details supplied) and the recommendations contained therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26292/15]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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635. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his views on developing an online registration facility for the electoral register. [26307/15]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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636. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his views on having a rolling electoral register, rather than one with set annual deadlines. [26308/15]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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637. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to set out his views on standardising practices in the processing of applications to the electoral register across the various local authorities; and his plans to issue guidelines on this matter (details supplied). [26309/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 595, 596, 631 and 635 to 637, inclusive, together.

The June 2015 position paper of the Union of Students of Ireland - Voter RegistrationReform, referred to in Question 631, sets out a number of recommendations in relation to the register of electors and on wider electoral matters which I have noted. The recommendations made regarding the register of electors include recommendations regarding the online registration of voters and on a rolling electoral register in place of the existing registration arrangements. In law, the preparation of the register of electors is a matter for each local authority as a registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register.

While I have no immediate plans for reviewing the ‘checktheregister.ie’ facility or for the introduction of an online or rolling register of electors in place of the existing registration arrangements, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish an Electoral Commission to subsume functions of existing bodies and my Department. On 27 January 2015 I published a consultation paper to commence the pre-legislative process leading to the establishment of an Electoral Commission. One of the issues identified for consideration in the consultation paper is the role that an Electoral Commission might play in respect of the register of electors.

The consultation paper is being considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht who are now engaged in a public consultation process in relation to the consultation paper. I understand that public hearings are to conclude before the end of July. A report is to be submitted to me on the outcomes from the consultation process as soon as possible thereafter and that will inform the development of an Electoral Commission Bill.

On the question of standardising practices by registration authorities in the performance of their registration duties, my Department issued guidance on preparing and maintaining the register of electors in May 2006 and will keep the need for further guidance under review. On the specific issue of deletion of existing names on the register, the Guidance advises that a name which appeared on a previous register should not be omitted solely on the grounds that the name is not included in the list of names furnished in respect of the household on the relevant form for the register being compiled. The Guidance advises that checks be carried out in such cases.