Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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845. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to include the new Eircode postcode in the compilation and publishing of the Electoral Register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28307/15]

Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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846. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to include the new Eircode postcode in all schemes and administrative roles operated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28314/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 845 and 846 together.

The compilation and maintenance of the register of electors is the responsibility of local authorities as registration authorities. The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) assists authorities in this process by maintaining the authorities’ computerised records that make up the register – the Electoral Register or ‘I-Reg’ system. The LGMA has been fully involved in integrating Eircodes into the I-Reg system in preparation for the next register of electors, for 2016/2017, which will come into force on 15 February 2016.

In addition, my Department is updating the range of register of electors application forms, many of which are prescribed or directed under the Electoral Acts, to provide for applicants to include their Eircode.

My Department is one of a number of Departments engaged in the Public Sector Bodies Forum which has been examining the issues around the integration of Eircodes into the key IT systems and business processes of Public Sector Bodies. The use of the new Eircodes is being actively examined within my Department and will be kept under review as the system is rolled out.