Newly elected Fine Gael TD for Dublin West, Dr Leo Varadkar, has called on the Green Party’s acting-leader, Trevor Sargent, to explain his party’s u-turn on the controversial Government decision to re-locate Mountjoy Prison to Thornton Hall, which is located on the border of the Dublin West and Dublin North constituencies. …[more]

” Chun an Aire Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil:To the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government:
To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will establish a boundary commission to review the local election areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. ”

- Leo Varadkar.

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 26th June, 2007.

Ref No: 17758/07

REPLY

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

” Unlike for Dáil constituencies, there are no constitutional or statutory requirements in relation to the frequency of local electoral area reviews. The last review of local electoral areas was carried out in 1998. The June 2004 local elections took place on the basis of the existing local electoral areas.

The next local elections are due to take place in 2009. I will be considering the review of the local electoral areas in the light of the final results from Census 2006 and other relevant factors. “