Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2012
15Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the timeframe for the Local Election Boundaries Commission Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31177/12]
View answerUnlike for Dáil constituencies, there are no constitutional or statutory requirements in relation to the frequency of local electoral area boundary reviews. The most recent reviews of local electoral areas were carried out in 1998 and 2008. The June 2009 local elections took place on the basis of the local electoral areas enacted following the 2008 review. I will now give consideration to arrangements for the review of local electoral areas, having regard to the recommendations on Dáil constituencies in the recently published constituency commission's report. I will also have regard to the final results of census 2011 and to any decisions by the Oireachtas on the constituency commission report and to Government decisions on local government reform, including the establishment of unified local authorities in Limerick and Tipperary.
Clearly, because of the decisions I have made with regard to the merger of certain authorities, there will be a need for a boundary review of local electoral areas.
The Minister has indicated he would start this process in July. How long will it take?
Hopefully, people will be in a position to know whether they are going to contest the elections at the end of January 2013.
Written Answers follow Adjournment.
The Dáil adjourned at 5.45 p.m. until 2.00 p.m. on Tuesday, 3 July 2012.
