Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 5

Written Answers. - European and Local Elections.

427.Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason it was decided to hold the European and local elections on a weekday rather than on a Saturday; the further reason it was decided that the polls should close at 9 p.m. rather than 10 p.m.; and his views on whether the weekday vote and the earlier closing hour for the vote contradicts the Government's stated efforts of trying to increase voter turnout in elections. [30012/03]

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

428 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he considered the expected difference in percentage turnout between a 14 hour poll and a 15 hour poll in making the decision to close polling at 9 p.m. rather than 10 p.m. at the local and European elections to be held on 11 June 2004; the information he has in this regard; if it will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30013/03]

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

429 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the day of the week and the duration of polling in terms of hours and the percentage voter turnout in each referendum and election held here since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30014/03]

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

430 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if the decision to close polling at 9 p.m. rather than 10 p.m. at the local and European elections to be held on the 11 June 2004 was motivated by financial considerations related to possible pay claims from polling station staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30015/03]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Cullen):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 to 430, inclusive, together.

All relevant factors were taken into account in the decision to appoint Friday 11 June 2004 as polling day and the hours of 7 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. as the polling times for the European and local elections. A significant issue was the need to hold the European elections on a day between Thursday 10 June and Saturday 13 June. Financial considerations were not a factor in the decision.

The information requested in relation to days of polling and turnout since 1997 is set out in the following table.

Poll	Year	Turnout %	Day	Times of Poll
Presidential Election	1997	47.60	Thursday	9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
General Election	1997	65.92	Friday	8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
General Election	2002	62.57	Friday	7.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Referendum
Cabinet Confidentiality	1997	47.17	Thursday	9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Treaty of Amsterdam	1998	56.20	Friday	8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Northern Ireland Agreement	1998	56.26	Friday	8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Local Government	1999	51.08	Friday	8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
International Criminal Court	2001	34.80	Thursday	8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Death Penalty	2001	34.80	Thursday	8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Nice Treaty	2001	34.80	Thursday	8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Protection of Human Life	2002	42.90	Wednesday	9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Nice Treaty	2002	49.50	Saturday	9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
European Parliament Election	1999	50.51	Friday	8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Local Election	1999	51.00	Friday	8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Údarás na Gaeltachta Election	1999	46.00	Saturday	9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The days of polling, turnout and polling times at the six by-elections to the 28th Dáil were: Dublin North, Wednesday, 50%, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Limerick East, Wednesday, 55%, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Cork South-Central, Friday; 50%, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Dublin South-Central, Wednesday, 28%, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tipperary South, Thursday, 57%, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Tipperary South, Saturday, 58.6%, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

No firm correlation between voter turnout and day of the week emerges from the above data, nor did the 15 hour poll for the general election 2002 produce a greater voter turnout than the 14 hour poll at the general election 1997. It should also be noted that the last combined European and local elections of 1999 were held on a Friday, but with a 13 hour poll rather than the 14 hour poll envisaged for 11 June 2004.

Questions Nos. 431 and 432 answered with Question No. 403.