Barry Cowen
Question:180. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of holding the marriage equality referendum on 22 May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46099/15]
View answerThursday, 17 December 2015
Questions (180)
Written answers
The Marriage Equality Referendum was held on the same day, 22nd May 2015, as the Referendum on Age of Eligibility for election to the Office of President and the Bye-election in Carlow-Kilkenny.
Returning Officers are required to submit their accounts for these election events to the Minister for Finance not later than six months after the date on which the poll was taken. Final checks are being made on these returns and the costs below are not expected to change as a result of these checks. When two or more election events are held on the same day there are significant savings from the sharing of people and facilities and the breakdown of the costs below, except where indicated, relate to the combined costs of these three election events.
The cost of €13.8m for the Marriage Equality Referendum includes the combined costs of other election events held on the same day that cannot be disaggregated from this total. The breakdown of this cost is as follows:
|
- |
€ |
|
Returning Officer Costs for taking the poll and counting of votes |
€10.4m |
|
Postal Costs (primarily delivery of Polling Cards) |
€1.8m* |
|
Referendum Commission Costs |
€1.2m** |
|
Other Costs (including printing) |
€0.4m |
* This amount relates to both Referendums but not the bye-election.
** This amount relates to the Marriage Equality Referendum only.