asked the Minister for Local Government when a decision is likely to be made as to the necessity for a revision of constituency boundaries consequent upon the publication of the recent census figures.
192.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (Resumed). - Revision of Constituencies.
191.
asked the Minister for Local Government when the constituency population data will be available; and if any constituency revision is intended by the Government.
193.
asked the Minister for Local Government what action, if any, he intends taking in respect of Dáil representation and constituency boundaries arising from the recent census returns.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 191, 192 and 193 together.
The figures given in the preliminary report on the 1971 Census of Population are provisional figures subject to revision and are not to be regarded as having statutory force. Moreover, the preliminary report does not contain the population figures for constituencies or for the smaller areas—district electoral divisions and wards—which are used to build up constituencies. A decision on the revision of constituencies cannot, therefore, be taken until Volume I of the Census Report which will contain the necessary information is published next year.
May I ask when Volume I, with its major political implications, will be available?
Somewhere around mid-1972. This is the estimate.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it would be October, 1972, before any revision of constituency Bill could be introduced into this House?
This involves assumptions and conclusions which I am not prepared to make at this stage.
It will be mid-1972 for——
For the publication of Volume I, the document which is necessary for this exercise.
But no preliminary data prior to publication will be available?
We have the preliminary census report.
I mean the printed form. There would not be a copy available around February or March?
We shall see.