This is a small Bill, which contains one main section and a small number of consequential provisions. Its main purpose is to secure the postponement of the local elections that would fall to be held this year, to a date not later than the 30th September, 1950. That is modified by an amendment accepted in the Dáil, following a pretty full discussion, giving the Minister a certain option in the matter. The provision, therefore, is that the elections shall be held not later than 30th September, 1950, but may be held at an earlier date.
There are two reasons for the postponement of the local elections. One reason, which will be generally acceptable, is that they should not be held in the same year as a general election and another is that they should be held at a time when legislation dealing with local government, as it affects city and country management, may have been passed into law, so that the members of local bodies may take up the new and added duties which I hope will fall to them as a result of those changes. One regrettable feature of local government in recent years has been the lack of interest by persons in coming forward to seek election and, generally, perhaps even more a lack of interest in local affairs—which, I think, is a rather unhappy symptom of the position that has developed in recent years. While I have an open mind on the matter, I was impressed by the case made in the Dáil that it may be advisable to hold the elections before 1950.
Provision is made for the holding of local elections in Kerry and Dublin this year. Both counties are managed at present by commissioners and it seems to me to be out of line with the policy to which I hope to give effect as Minister that that arrangement should continue very much longer. There is also provision for the re-election of the Dublin Board of Assistance. The orginal draft of the Bill postponed that until 1950, but there was a very widely expressed view in the Dáil that the board should be restored immediately after the local elections took place in Dublin. Giving way to that view, I felt I was interpreting the views expressed in the Dáil.
It may be necessary to make some liaison arrangement between the board of assistance and the Department, arising out of the election of the board, in order that certain work of reorganisation going on in the central institution with which the board would be dealing at a subsequent time, may be carried through; but at this stage I need not trouble members of the Seanad with any particulars in that connection, as it is the subject of discussion between the Department of Health and my Department at present and ultimately will be decided in accordance with the progress that has been made in the reorganisation.
Sections 8, 9 and 10 relate to committees for vocational education, agriculture and harbour authorities. They are consequential proposals, arising out of the main purpose of the Bill. Section 11 gives power to the Minister to make certain adaptations in the law regarding local elections. This was the subject of considerable discussion in the Dáil and, as a result, provision has been made to prevent any unfair use being made of this section. Any regulations or adaptations made under this section will be laid on the Tables of the Oireachtas and be subject to annulment within the period provided.