Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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301. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress that has been made regarding electoral reform given the commitments made in the Programme for Government in relation to same in order to streamline the way persons can register to vote and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5979/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government - Our Shared Futurecommits to a broad range of electoral reforms including a commitment to the modernisation of voter registration. Proposals to modernise the electoral registration process include the introduction of rolling (continuously updated) registration; the simplification of forms and the overall registration process, including the provision of an online option; and the use of PPSNs in the registration process. A shared registration system for Local Authorities to use in managing their registers is also envisaged. Together, these reforms will make it easier for people to register to vote and update their details, while enabling more effective management by local authorities.

The Electoral Reform Bill, which provides for the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission and the regulation of online political advertising also provides the legislative underpinning for the reform of the electoral registration process. The Bill was approved for drafting by the Government in December 2020 and the general scheme of the Bill was the subject of thorough pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Committee's report was published in August 2021.

The Electoral Reform Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting and will be published and progressed early this year.