Written answers
Tuesday, 20 February 2024
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Housing Schemes
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
346. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the categories of people who are eligible for postal voting. [7583/24]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Electoral law provides for postal voting for a number of different categories of people:
- whole-time members of the Defence Forces
- members of An Garda Síochána
- Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/civil partners
- electors living at home who are unable to vote because of an illness or a disability
- electors whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person at their local polling station on polling day
- full-time students registered at their home who are living elsewhere while attending an educational institution in the State,
- prisoners, and
- certain election staff employed at the poll outside the constituency where they reside.
The Electoral Reform Act 2022 included provisions for the establishment of an independent, statutory Electoral Commission, entitled An Coimisiún Toghcháin. An Coimisiún has been given a new research, advisory and public information function, which involves the commission conducting research on electoral policy and procedure. An Coimisiún is also empowered to advise and make recommendations to the Minister and the Government in relation to any proposals for legislative change, or any other policy matters concerning electoral and legislative proposals.
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future contains a commitment to examine the use of postal voting, with a view to expanding its provision. In support of this commitment I wrote to An Coimisiún in July 2023, and outlined a number of issues that An Coimisiún might include in its initial research programme. This included the commitment in the Programme for Government relating to postal voting. An Coimisiún’s draft research programme, published on 10 November 2023, included a proposal to examine the issue of postal voting. I will review this policy area once An Coimisiún has considered and made recommendations on the issue.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
347. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the review of Housing for All is due to commence; and how long the review will take. [7597/24]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Housing for All is an agile plan and has an in-built flexibility to review measures to address the changing and complex needs of the housing system. The latest updated Action Plan, published in November 2023, continues to focus on activating and delivering housing at pace, enhancing affordability, whilst fundamentally reforming our housing system.
The actions in the Plan are updated on an annual basis, including timelines and responsibilities, to sustain momentum on delivery during the lifetime of the Plan. The next update will be published in Q4 this year along with the Housing for All Q3 2024 Progress Report.
Progress reports are published quarterly. These reports can be accessed at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/9d2ee-housing-for-all-quarterly-progress-reports/
No comments