Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

754. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reform the electoral register system, which is not updated regularly and from which persons can often be incorrectly removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30079/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. Register details are updated in preparation for the publication of the draft register on 1 November each year. Guidance issued to local authorities by my Department on preparing and maintaining the register requires authorities to send a notice to any person whose name it is proposed to omit from the draft register indicating that they have failed to establish that the person is still resident at the address and, unless evidence to the contrary is provided within 10 days, their name will be removed. The Guidance also 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.

In regard to the reform of the electoral register system, I await the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht following their consultation on the paper I published in January on the establishment of an Electoral Commission in Ireland. One of the issues being considered in the context of the establishment of an Electoral Commission is the role that the Commission might play in respect of the register of electors. I understand that public hearings in the consultation have concluded and that the register has been a key feature in the Committee’s considerations and in the contributions of the persons engaging with the Committee. The report to be submitted to me on the outcomes from the consultation process will inform the development of an Electoral Commission Bill.