Vol. 473 No. 4
270 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to ensure that all polling stations will be manned by people who are either unemployed or are in receipt of low incomes in view of the number of complaints (details supplied) being received that many polling stations throughout the country are being manned by people of means and by people already in employment. [1513/97]
Statutory responsibility for the conduct of elections and referenda, including the employment of staff required, rests with the returning officers who are not subject to direction by me as to how they carry out their duties. However, I am most anxious that, wherever possible, employment in connection with an election or referendum should be offered to suitable unemployed persons. It is, therefore, the practice of my Department at recent elections and referenda to write to returning officers requesting them to employ unemployed persons, wherever possible, and to contact FÁS to secure assistance in the recruitment of suitable personnel. The question of employing unwaged persons for election work is also among the electoral matters which I have referred for consideration to the Dáil Select Committee on Finance and General Affairs.
