asked the Minister for Local Government whether in his opinion the arrangements made for the casting of votes in the referendum of 10th May were adequate.
107.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Polling Arrangements.
106.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that presiding officers and polling clerks are adequately instructed in their duties.
With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions No. 106 and 107 together.
Generally I have no reason to believe that the arrangements made for the casting of votes at the referendum were other than satisfactory or that presiding officers and poll clerks were not adequately instructed in their duties. In the few cases where problems came to notice the matter was taken up with the local returning officer immediately.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in the Sisters of Charity school at Armagh Road the main large hall which has a wide entrance was not made available? Two small rooms were made available for that enormous polling area with the result that only one person at a time could enter or leave the room. The place became congested late in the evening. The main hall was redecorated but would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that this should not have prevented it being used for polling purposes?
I have no knowledge of the complaint the Deputy has made.
I have not made a complaint. Will the Parliamentary Secretary make some inquiries into this matter?
With regard to arrangements for the referendum, the same regulations and precautions were in operation as at other times.
There was a change. If the Parliamentary Secretary wishes I will tell him about it.
I accept that there may have been hitches. The Department have given instruction to presiding officers that where difficulties for old people and others exist the most suitable location should be chosen for polling booths. It is not always easy to get the best locations. I will have the case referred to by the Deputy investigated.
I do not know if it happened in other constituencies but certainly in Dublin South-Central a number of halls were always used for polling. On this occasion people who lived in the Kimmage area had to go a long distance to poll at the Presentation School at Terenure. Formerly there were halls available for them. I presume this was done in the interests of economy because I understand that national schools are free whereas payment must be made for other halls. I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to make inquiries into these matters.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary arrange for consideration to be given for polling in all future elections and referenda to be held on Sundays?
That is a separate question.
If we make representations regarding difficulties in certain constituencies with regard to the availablity of polling stations, would the Parliamentary Secretary look into this matter for future elections?
After every election we receive a number of complaints and we bring up the matters with the returning officers.
108.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he intends to take steps to improve the physical conditions under which polling takes place; and in particular whether he will ensure that persons suffering from physical disabilities or old age shall be able to secure easy access to the polling booths.
The selection of the actual building to be used in any particular polling place is a matter for the local returning officer concerned. Generally, in regard to the question of access to buildings by disabled persons it is proposed to have provisions included in the building regulations, now being drafted, requiring special access facilities to be incorporated, where practicable, in new public buildings.
109.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that persons whose names were not on the electoral register were permitted to vote in a polling station in Dublin South-Central on 10th May and that their names were inserted on his register by the presiding officer; and whether he will take steps to prevent a recurrence of this situation.
I am not aware of any such occurence. If the Deputy has information in relation to electoral irregularities it is his duty to furnish it to the Garda so that the question of prosecution may be considered.
I am not interested in making any fuss about this matter but, in fact, one of our personation agents at a station told me late in the evening that the presiding officer had entered names in the register systematically throughout the day and had entered at least 30 names of people who were not on the register. I did not make a fuss about it at the time. I take it that the Parliamentary Secretary would not approve of this?
No. I think the Deputy should have made a fuss about it.
I never make a fuss in polling booths. I made a fuss on one occasion when I saw a representative of the Fianna Fáil Party standing beside the senior presiding officer. I was told he had been there all evening and I made a fuss on that occasion. I might add it was very effective.
I think the Deputy should have made a fuss afterwards about the matter he mentioned.
I will make further inquiries about it.