asked the Minister for Local Government when the new local authority electoral areas will be announced.
44.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electoral Areas.
43.
asked the Minister for Local Government the changes, if any, he proposes to make in the electoral areas for local authority elections.
45.
asked the Minister for Local Government the changes, if any, that are proposed in the number of councillors to be elected in any electoral area for local authority elections.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 44 and 45 together.
In consultation with the local authorities I am carrying out a general review of local electoral areas with a view to bringing about reasonable equality of representation within each local authority. In every case where changes are decided upon, effect will be given to the changes by an order of the Minister. Copies of each order, when made, will be presented to each House of the Oireachtas. The review may involve changes in the boundaries of local electoral areas and/or changes in the number of councillors elected for such areas.
When does the Minister expect to have this process completed?
I hope to have it completed very quickly but some local authorities are slow in forwarding their views. I continue to remind them in this regard and I am anxious to have the views of all local authorities within the next couple of weeks so that a decision can be reached before the end of this month.
The Minister will appreciate the necessity for an early decision.
My apologies— I have only come into the House— but I gather that the Minister said the elections will be held in June.
I have said so a dozen times.
Would the Minister not agree that the situation in County Dublin is such that to hold an election at this time without increasing the number of members of Dublin County Council would be grossly unjust to the ratepayers and to the people generally of that area?
Does this arise from the question?
When one considers that on average each councillor represents 12,000 people——
Is it fair that Deputy Burke should come in at the last minute and ask questions similar to those to which answers were given within the past few minutes?
Perhaps the Deputy would put down a question.
What I am asking arises from the question on the Order Paper. Is the Minister afraid to answer?
I have made a declaration already and I have given the reasons why it is not possible to have the number of councillors increased. I do not propose to postpone the local elections beyond June of this year because it is now seven years since the last elections were held and it is not right that that situation should continue.
How much more unjust will it be in five years from now that the people of County Dublin be represented by such a meagre number of councillors?
We cannot argue the matter here today.
It is not good enough that the Minister should stand there and smile. I am entitled to have a reply.
How many replies is Deputy Burke entitled to? He has got this one ten times.
The Chair would point out that Question Time was being conducted smoothly up to the time that Deputy Burke entered the House.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I propose with your permission, Sir, to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
When will the electoral areas be announced?
I have answered that already.