asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state what steps are being taken to ensure that the officials mentioned in rule 7 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 1923, effectively carry out the duties imposed upon them under the Schedule; and, in particular, the duty of making a house-to-house inquiry in connection with the annual revision of the electoral lists.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Revision of Electoral Lists.
The officials referred to in rule 7 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Acts, 1923, are required by the registration rules to make a house-to-house or other sufficient inquiry in connection with the compilation of the electors' lists. The overseers must satisfy themselves that such an inquiry is made systematically by the collectors of poor rate and that a record of the inquiry is available if required at revision. The collectors of poor rate must report every week to the overseers as to the progress of the house-to-house or other inquiry and any failure to carry out the inquiries promptly and accurately must be reported by the overseer to the registration officer, who will advise my Department. Newly-appointed collectors of poor rate are required to be given complete instructions before commencing work as to their duties in relation to the compilation of the electors' lists in their area. Instructions on these lines are issued yearly in my Department.