Vol. 266 No. 5
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that a number of polling stations in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown constituency were re-located for the Presidential election on thoroughfares which were of a dangerous and narrow nature and also long distances from the areas they were intended to serve; if he will ensure that many people are not so deprived of the franchise in the future; and if he will make a statement in the matter.
9.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the many complaints about the inadequacy of some polling stations in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown constituency, particularly at the Town Hall, Dún Laoghaire, Killiney and Ballybrack; and if he will request the Returning Officer to review the matter as soon as possible and to consult fully with the public representatives.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 8 and 9 together.
The polling arrangements at the Presidential election in the constituency of Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown were based on a polling scheme made by the elected members of Dublin County Council following consultation with the Dáil deputies for the area and with Dún Laoghaire corporation. The selection of the premises to be used for voting in each polling place nominated by the scheme is a matter for the local returning officer.
My Department are taking up with the county council and the local returning officer the matters referred to in the Deputies' questions.
It is interesting to note that the Minister made the point that Dáil Deputies were consulted. I should like to put it on record that no such consultation took place but I am glad lo note that the Minister is to conduct an inquiry and that the matter will be rectified. Will he consult the Deputies concerned?
Dublin County Council contacted all Dáil Deputies for the county, including Deputies Desmond and Andrews, on 19th November, 1971. A revised draft was circulated to them on 14th April, 1972. I propose to ask the county council's local returning officer to have a look at the matter. However, it is not a matter for me. It is a matter for the returning officer.
Is the Minister aware that the designated polling station for Dún Laoghaire was Dún Laoghaire? For Killiney it was Killiney and for Dalkey it was Dalkey. Deputy Andrews and I, and I am sure other Deputies in the constituency, have some strong views about that kind of consultation.
I suggest that if Deputy Desmond has strong views on these matters he should put them to the returning officer.
I did but I got no satisfactory answer.
We put down parliamentary questions on the matter. The Minister will agree that this official document, whenever it arrives, does not constitute direct consultation as we know it, physical consultation. Will he ensure that in future this position will be rectified?
No, because it is not a matter for me. In my constituency, as Deputy Crinion will confirm, if we receive a draft document showing the polling stations and we are not satisfied with them we go to see the returning officer and the secretary of the county council who are only too pleased to oblige us. I agree that Deputy Andrews has a point. Polling stations should be as convenient as possible and this year I particularly asked that polling stations should be put on ground-floor level so that people would not have to go upstairs. Unfortunately, this did not seem to be possible in the short time given for the making of the arrangements.
I wonder would the Minister give us——
The Chair has to pass on from this Question.
I can appreciate the Chair's concern in this matter but can the Minister give us the dates on which these documents were passed on to the Deputies in the constituency?
Yes, of course. I have already given Deputy Andrews and the House the dates. The first one was on the 19th November, 1971 and the second was the 14th April, 1972.
The Minister suggested it was impossible to arrange only downstairs accommodation for voters because of the short time available. Does the Minister and the population of Ireland know that for over seven years the date of the next Presidential election was known?
I do but my predecessor and Deputy Lynch's Government did not do anything about it. When I was appointed Minister I took the necessary steps. I asked the local authorities to do something about it but it appears they had not got the necessary time.
Just one final supplementary.
We must pass on to Question No. 10.
This is the national Parliament and it is fair to say that this matter should be raised here.
The Chair is the sole judge as to the number of supplementary questions which can be asked. I feel I have dealt with the Deputy very fairly in this matter and he ought not to challenge the right of the Chair.
I am not going to indulge in badinage with you. I appreciate your position but I am very concerned with the rights of the people in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown in regard to this matter.
Has the Deputy a specific supplementary question to ask?
Yes, I have. What concern has the Minister shown in relation to the dangerous location of some of these polling booths?
Deputy Andrews must be aware that I do not know where there were dangerous polling stations located but he does. I suggest that he would spend his time better if he brought the matter to the notice of the people responsible for fixing those polling stations. It is not my responsibility. I have people appointed to do that. I have asked them to do it and I would be glad of the assistance of Deputy Andrews and, indeed, Deputy Desmond and others who might be interested in having them sited in different places.
