asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the great dissatisfaction in the country on account of the omissions from the current register of electors; and if he will consider making a thorough investigation into the present method of compiling the register.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Omissions from Register of Electors.
11.
I am not so aware. Under the present method of compiling the register of electors any person whose name is not entered or is entered incorrectly in the electors lists may make a claim to the registration officer before 22nd December in any year. Registration officers are advised to give the fullest practicable publicity to the preparation of the lists so that persons wishing to make claims may do so. In addition I arranged last year for special radio broadcasts to be made bringing to the notice of persons qualified to vote the desirability of ensuring that their names were correctly entered on the lists.
If the Deputy will communicate to me any definite information he may have about specific cases of errors or omissions I will be glad to have them investigated.
Is it not strange that he has not had any complaints about this matter from his own side, because I know Fianna Fáil Deputies in Wexford have complained bitterly about this position? Would the Minister consider (1) changing the day for the compilation of the register from September to some other month, in view of the fact that the rate collectors who compile the register are then at one of their busiest seasons as are the agricultural community; and (2) changing the time for appeals and objections from the Christmas period when people are occupied with other things? Further, would he try to discontinue the practice whereby rate collectors farm out the compilation of the register to people who have no official status and have not the approval of the local authority or the Minister?
So far as the suggestions made by the Deputy are concerned, I may tell him that I have already considered this matter. There may be some changes made, but in so far as farming out their obligations is concerned, all I can say is that in so far as each registrar in each county is concerned, if the error is over one per cent. in regard to these registration lists, or voters or electors lists, the money which is paid to the rate collectors for doing the job is questioned or curtailed or wiped out altogether.
That is only when a complaint is made.
Well, I suppose if nobody makes a complaint, nothing is done.
Few people are concerned with having a vote when an election is over. Would the Minister not consider changing the period for the compilation of the register from the month of September to some other month, in view of the fact that rate collectors are at their busiest time in that month?
We have been considering that and there may be some changes but I can make no promises.
I am sure the Minister will accept this proposition, that where persons have been on the register for 10, 15 or 20 years, and their names are suddenly dropped therefrom, there is obvious evidence of negligence somewhere. That is an error which it should be possible to obviate. Would the Minister direct the attention of the returning officers to the necessity for a careful check on the registers to ensure that at least that avoidable error would no longer be a source of complaint?
Yes, I shall bear all those things in mind and, in fact, the people concerned have repeatedly been given notice concerning matters of that kind.
If the Minister is considering any change in the time, would he also consider allowing a greater period between the publication of the electors list on 25th November and the dates within which objections may be lodged?
That is getting very serious consideration.
Is the Minister aware that where differential rents apply, people are not prepared to submit the names of lodgers or other people living with them in case the differential rent would be increased?
I shall ask the Deputy to use his good offices in those cases.
The Minister should use his good offices as he has more influence than I.