asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that a large number of tenants of flats in Dublin do not appear on the register of electors; what steps are taken by those who compile the register to check on whether or not flat tenants are registered; if any improvements in the compilation of the register are proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flat Tenants on Register of Electors.
33.
I am not aware that a large number of tenants of flats in Dublin do not appear on the register of electors.
The relevant statutory regulations require each registration authority to carry out a house to house or other sufficient inquiry for the purpose of preparing the register of electors. A detailed house to house inquiry is, in fact, carried out by Dublin Corporation. In addition, forms on which application may be made for registration are distributed and each year electors are exhorted by means of publicity campaigns in the press, on radio and television, to check the draft register. Nevertheless I understand that the corporation experiences difficulty in obtaining details of persons living in flats which are normally unoccupied during the day.
While any improvement in the method of compilation of the register, within the scope of the regulations, is a matter in the first instance for the registration authority, if the Deputy will let me have particulars of any cases in question, I shall have the matter further examined.
Is the Minister aware that landlords who are anxious to avoid letting the Commissioners of Valuation, the local authorities or the Revenue Commissioners know they have let their houses in flats make a point of not returning to the people who are compiling the election register details of their tenants? Is he further aware that in areas in Dublin in which a large number of houses are in fact broken into flats it is not uncommon for several houses to be entered on the register as having only two people of voting age when in fact 20 or more are of voting age? I shall avail of the Minister's offer to have this matter further examined. Is he further aware that local authorities and Dublin Corporation use the register as a means of spying on property owners and use the returns on the election register as a device to increase valuation when houses have been turned into flats? It is because those landlords are not returning information to the returning officer that these other people have to suffer.
There may be cases in which people conceal the fact that they have houses let in flats but I think the corporation make every effort possible to discover this. In addition, the people concerned are exhorted in every way possible to make sure their names are on the register. In regard to the allegation that Dublin Corporation spy on people to find out whether they are letting their places, I consider it is quite right for local authorities to make every effort to ensure that such people do not escape.
Is the Minister aware that under the present system civic-minded landlords who return their tenants on the election register are penalised by having their valuation increased while the landlords who do not return details of their tenants are going scot-free?
The person who tells the truth is not penalised. There is no question of penalising such a person, but if the other person is discovered, he will be penalised.