asked the Minister for Local Government what steps are being taken to afford the public an opportunity of checking the draft register of electors.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Register of Electors.
40.
Registration authorities, that is county councils and county borough councils, are required by law to publish a draft register of electors on the 1st of December each year. They send a copy of the draft to public representatives and make copies available for public inspection at post offices, libraries, dispensaries, courthouses, Garda stations and local authority offices from the 1st December to the 15th January, during which period any person may make a claim to the registration authority concerned for correction of the draft. A claim may relate to the addition or deletion of a name or other correction. Forms on which such claims may be made are available at the above-mentioned premises and can be sent post-free to the registration authority. As the accuracy of the register depends to a large degree on the co-operation of the public they are exhorted by means of press, radio and television announcements and posters in public buildings to check the draft register on or before the 15th January. It is particularly important that persons reaching the age of 21 years during the 12 months ending on the 15th April next and persons who changed their address in the past year should check that their names are on the draft.
Is the Minister aware that there should be greater care in the compilation of the register? After all, I lost a few thousand votes in the last election.
That was not the Minister's fault.
That was because of the way the Deputy's constituency was gerrymandered.
(Interruptions.)
If so, his loss was my gain.
The Minister was nearly losing his seat.
(Interruptions.)
An active political party organisation also supplies a service in this regard. I send a circular to the registration authorities every year prior to the compilation of the draft register drawing their attention to the need for maximum accuracy and pointing out the various aspects that require particular attention. I have done that this year as in other years.