Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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665. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he plans to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations for Dáil Éireann constituencies in the Constituency Commission Report 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31209/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Following publication of the preliminary census results on 14 July 2016, the Constituency Commission (Establishment) Order 2016 was made establishing an independent Constituency Commission to begin work on a report on Dáil and European Parliament constituencies.  In accordance with requirements under section 9 of the Electoral Act 1997 (as amended), the Constituency Commission Report 2017 was presented to the Chairman of the Dáil on 27 June 2017.  Under the Act, the Constituency Commission stands dissolved upon presentation of its report.

Given the report is now published, the next step, in accordance with accepted practice, is for the preparation of a Bill in my Department to give statutory effect to the Commission’s recommendations.  Ultimately, the final determination of the constituencies for Dáil Éireann will be a matter for the Oireachtas to prescribe in legislation.  In this regard, I will bring the necessary legislation forward in the coming months for the consideration of the Oireachtas.