Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

247. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he plans to review the local authority constituency boundaries; the factors to be taken into account when considering this issue; when this review might commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27204/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Electoral Reform Act 2022 amended Part V of the Local Government Act 1991 (as amended) in respect of the review of local electoral areas. Under Chapter 8 of Part 2 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, future reviews of local electoral areas are now a function of An Coimisiún Toghcháin which was established on 9 February 2023.

Section 23 of the Local Government Act 2001 (as amended) empowers the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make an order to divide a local authority area into local electoral areas and to amend those areas. However, in advance of deciding to make an order under section 23 of that Act, the Minister must, in accordance Part V of the Local Government Act 1991, request An Coimisiún Toghcháin to make a report having regard to such matters as may be specified by the Minister.

Before making a request to An Coimisiún, the Minister shall, in accordance with section 61 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, prepare a draft of the request which must be -

(a) laid before each House of the Oireachtas, and

(b) approved by resolution passed by each such House.

Following the sending of a request to An Coimisiún and the completion of its review, the Minister must publish the report of An Coimisiún and must have regard to the report in deciding whether to make an order in relation to any amendment to local electoral area boundaries.

I currently have no plans to make an order under section 23 of the Local Government Act 2001 amending local electoral areas.