Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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575. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide an update on preparations for the university panel poll in the next Seanad elections. [51793/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Under Seanad Electoral law, the taking of the poll for the Higher Education Constituency is a matter for the Returning Officer, in this case the Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Ireland. As Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, I have no function in relation to the taking of the poll.

The Seanad Electoral (University Members) Amendment Act 2024 provided that the Seanad election that follows the next dissolution of the Dáil will see the newly established Higher Education constituency electing all six University Senators. It also named the National University of Ireland as the Central Registration Authority to administer the register.

Graduates of designated institutions, who hold a degree which is at least at bachelor level, and who are Irish Citizens aged 18 years or over, are eligible to apply to be entered on the electoral register for the Higher Education constituency. More information on this is available at Seanadvoter.ie.

The first register of electors in respect of the new constituency was published on 1 April 2025 and includes some 62,775 electors from across 16 designated institutions, nine of which are newly designated. This register of electors will be used for any Seanad general election but also enables the creation of a specific register for the Trinity or NUI constituencies which elected the sitting University Senators, should a by-election arise in the interim period.

The Chief Registration Officer, appointed by the National University of Ireland in line with the legislation, is statutorily responsible for preparing the register of electors and revising it annually in accordance with the Act. An awareness campaign is in preparation to support the first annual revision of the register of electors. The revised register will be published and enter into force on 1 June 2026.