Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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304. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the Electoral Commission will be set up and running for submissions. [10104/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Electoral Commission - An Coimisiún Toghcháin - was established on 9 February 2023 by way of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 (Establishment Day) Order 2023 and is now operational. In this regard, section 30(3) of Electoral Reform Act provides that an Coimisiún shall be independent in the performance of its functions.

I understand that An Coimisiún is currently undertaking a review of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies in line with its functions under Chapter 7 of Part 2 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022. I also understand that An Coimisiún has announced a public consultation inviting written submissions in relation to its review of constituencies. The public consultation is available on An Coimisiún's website at www.electoralcommission.ie/constituency-reviews/.

The Electoral Reform Act 2022 provides that the Report of An Coimisiún Toghcháin in respect of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies will be completed and published within three months of the publication of final Census results. With the final Census results expected by the end of May, I expect that the report from An Coimisiún will be available by the end of August 2023.