Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 May 1923

Vol. 3 No. 19

COMMITTEE ON FINANCE—ESTIMATES FOR PUBLIC SERVICES. - REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT.

The PRESIDENT

I beg to move: "That a sum not exceeding twenty-one thousand pounds be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1924 for expenses under the Representation of the People Act, 1918." £33,000 has been voted on account.

The register of electors is prepared by the Clerk of the Crown and Peace, with the assistance of officials of local authorities, and the cost is met normally by moneys advanced by the County Councils, and these Councils then reclaimed one-half of the expenses from the Ministry of Finance, and this Vote provided the sum necessary for this recoupment. Owing to the delay in the submission and examination of claims, a large number of claims for registers prepared last year are still outstanding, and for this the sum of £25,000 was necessary. The sum of £29,000 is required in respect of the register now being prepared on the basis of adult suffrage. In view of the extension of the electorate, this register will be more expensive than previous registers. One-half of the cost of printing the register is borne on the Stationery Office Vote.

Mr. JOHNSON

I wonder whether there is any possibility of any of this money being used for the purpose of the election when it comes. If it is so, I hope there will not be the same reason to complain after the next election in the case of presiding officers as there was after the last. On that occasion presiding officers had to wait a very long time for the payment of necessary out-of-pocket expenses which they incurred. I take this opportunity, though it is quite out of order, to ask whether all the expenses incurred at the last election by presiding officers throughout the country have yet been paid. Up to two or three weeks ago I had at least one complaint that such accounts had not been paid.

The PRESIDENT

I cannot say if they have all been paid. I do say that, according as they come in and are vouched for, there is no delay in payment. Owing to the abnormal circumstances that existed as from shortly after the last election was held, it might be reasonable to expect that a delay would take place; but, as I say, in the case of accounts that came in and were vouched for, there was no unreasonable delay in making payment so far as the Ministry of Finance was concerned. I sign cheques for these payments regularly.

Mr. JOHNSON

I do not want the Minister to be under any misapprehension or to state what he does not know, but there has been great delay after getting accounts vouched.

Mr. BLYTHE

I think the cases in which delays occurred have come to my notice, because people believe that I was responsible for them as Minister for Local Government. I know that in many cases money had actually been paid out by the Ministry of Finance to the Under-sheriff, but I believe that in one case very drastic action will have to be taken with the Under-sheriff.

Mr. WILSON

Can the Minister state on what basis this money is paid? Is it so much for each county or so much for each box? I would like to know how the money is allocated. In the County Wicklow we had great difficulty in getting the matter settled. I have a letter from the Minister for Local Government to the effect that all accounts have been settled. When I go back I will ascertain if that is so.

Mr. BLYTHE

In the Co. Wicklow the trouble was entirely due to the Returning Officer.

Mr. JOHNSON

I should just like to say that it is to the credit of the men, and perhaps of the women too, who made the register that, so far as we can gather from all over the country, the register is more complete and satisfactory than we had reason to expect. There is just a question that perhaps the Minister for Home Affairs would be able to enlighten us upon: that is, whether the Under-sheriff, whom the Minister for Local Government refers to, is one of the gentlemen that will have the duty of carrying out other Acts?

Mr. BLYTHE

I can answer that very satisfactorily. He was the person appointed in that particular constituency to do the duty of the Under-sheriff, as the Under-sheriff himself was not available.

Mr. HENNESSY

I was interested in a claim for remuneration made by some people in my constituency who were engaged counting the votes at the last election. The work they had to do was extraordinarily heavy. They were working day and night for the full 24 hours. Some time ago the Minister for Local Government gave me an assurance that he would make strong representations to the Ministry of Finance on their behalf. I would like to know if anything has been done for them?

Mr. WILSON

My question has not been answered yet as to what method is adopted for allocating money to meet election expenses in each county?

The PRESIDENT

I had experience of this work for many years. The costs of making up the register are divided between the County Council and the Government, the Government paying one-half. That, I take it, is what the Deputy refers to.

Mr. WILSON

No. What I want to know is how the money to meet the expenses of elections is allocated to each county. I want to know if one county gets as much as another, or how is the money divided up?

The PRESIDENT

The amount allocated depends on the extent of the electoral area.

Mr. WILSON

Is the same amount paid to each area?

The PRESIDENT

I take it that what happens is, if there are 5,000 electors in one county and 5,000 in another the expenses would be approximately the same. There would be a difference, however, if the area of one county were greater than another. The amounts paid, I imagine, are fixed by reference to the number of electors on the register. If in one county the number of electors is double the number in another, obviously the local authority would have to provide a larger number of polling booths in the larger county, and that, of course, would entail much higher expense in that county than in the other; but there is no discrimination against a county or any favourable consideration for a county. The arrangement is made on a fair basis.

Mr. DAVIN

Can the Minister say if any provision is being made in these Estimates for the expenses of a referendum, or will it be necessary to bring in a Supplemental Vote to cover the expenses in such a case?

The PRESIDENT

I cannot say that such provision has been made. I take it that we may anticipate an equally sensible Dáil to replace this one, and that there will be no necessity for a referendum.

Question put and agreed to.