asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider giving a postal vote to polling booth staff, e.g. polling clerks who are not working in their own constituency and who are therefore unable to vote.

19.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to permit those who find that their names are not on the register of electors even though they are entitled to vote to apply to the courts or to go through some procedure whereby they would be able to vote.

20.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to carry out a complete review of the methods used to compile the electoral registers as the present situation is far from satisfactory.

21.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he has any proposals to improve the situation of voter registration to give citizens more opportunity to vote in situations where their name does not appear on the final register of electors.

22.

(Dún Laoghaire) asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to amend the relevant legislation to allow disabled persons to have a postal vote.

23.

asked the Minister for the Environment if it is intended to extend postal voting facilities to the following categories of Irish nationals; (1) seaman employed by Irish Shipping or short-route companies such as B & I, British Rail; (2) civil servants on official duties overseas at election time; (3) Irish diplomats serving overseas; (4) those on bona fide business overseas on election day; and (5) airline personnel temporarily out of the country at election time.

24.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he will extend the present postal vote system; and if he will ensure that all polling booths are easily accessible in order to facilitate aged or handicapped persons.

25.

asked the Minister for the Environment the outcome of his examination of the availability of postal voting for persons who are unable to get to the polls due to illness.

26.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he has any proposals to introduce a comprehensive system of postal voting at elections in this country.

27.

asked the Minister for the Environment the reason a disabled person (details supplied) in Dublin was denied access to a polling station despite the fact that representations were made to ensure that facilities would be provided to enable him to vote.

28.

asked the Minister for the Environment whether it is the Government's intention to review and amend the Dáil electoral laws in any respect other than the possible revision of constituencies; and, if so, in which respects.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 28, inclusive, together.

I have set up a working party with the following terms of reference: to examine and make recommendations on: (1) the registration process, with a view to effecting a real improvement in the standard of the register of electors, (2) a scheme of postal voting for disabled persons and others who may be unable to vote in person at an election, (3) access to polling stations for disabled persons, and (4) such other matters as may be referred to the working party by myself.

The inaugural meeting will be held on 3 June, 1982 and I have asked the working party to go about their task with a real sense of urgency. The working party comprise two county registrars, one sheriff, four senior local authority officials and two officials of my Department. The county registrars and sheriff involved, are returning officers at Dáil elections.