asked the Minister for Local Government the date on which he intends to hold the local government elections.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Government Elections.
51.
A decision on the date has not yet been taken.
Can the Minister give us an indication when? After all, the local elections are usually held in the month of June. This is the month of February. It is important the Minister should announce the date as soon as possible.
They are due every five years.
That is not the point. It means now we are four or five months away from the normal month for the elections.
Why should anybody get the idea that it should not be the normal month?
Because the Minister has indicated it may be September.
Where and when?
The Minister said it in the House last autumn.
What did I say?
The Minister said he had power.
Yes, but I did not say the other.
The inference was that it could be June or September.
The Deputy can back track on that.
Is it June?
I am hoping it will be.
52.
asked the Minister for Local Government what residential or other qualifications or requirements are necessary for candidates for (a) county council elections and (b) urban council elections.
It is my intention to bring into operation before the next local elections the provisions of the Electoral Act, 1963, which will repeal all existing legal provisions requiring a candidate at a local election to reside or hold or occupy property or be registered as a local government elector in the area of the local authority to which he seeks election. The qualifications which exist at present and which will, in consequence, be abolished are as follows:—
For election to a county council a person must either be the owner of property held by freehold, leasehold or other tenure within the county electoral area in which he seeks election or else be registered as a local government elector for the county electoral area in which he seeks election. For election to the council of an urban district or a borough (other than a county borough) a person must either be registered as a local government elector for the urban district or borough or have resided in the borough or urban district during the whole of the twelve months preceding the election.
Will the new position be then that any Irish citizen in any part of the country can be a candidate?
Yes.