asked the Minister for the Environment if the Electoral Area Boundaries Commission can make recommendations on the extension of boundaries of county borough councils including the proposed Galway County Borough Council; and if legislation will be enacted prior to June 1985 to enable elections to be held within the expanded county borough boundaries.

12.

asked the Minister for the Environment to state the provision which will be made for payment of compensation in the event of areas being transferred from one local authority to another local authority.

13.

asked the Minister for the Environment whether the terms of reference of the Electoral Area Boundaries Commission allow for more than 15 seats on Galway County Borough in the event of substantial additions to the existing borough boundary.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 12 and 13 together.

The terms of reference given to the County and County Borough Electoral Area Boundaries Commission relate mainly to the revision of electoral areas and representation so as to bring about a reasonable relationship between population and representation within each local authority concerned, where this does not already exist.

The commission are also required to consult with the County and County Borough Councils of Cork and Limerick and with the County Council and Borough Council of Galway and, in the light of these consultations, to recommend whether and in what manner the boundaries of the cities in question should be extended.

The intention is that the commission will explore the possibility of local agreement on the question of boundary adjustment so that any agreed changes might be made effective for the local elections to be held in June.

Should the commission make recommendations for the extension of a boundary, they are required to recommend suitable provision for the representation of the area proposed to be added to the city, including, where appropriate, an increase in the membership of the city authority. This applies to Galway as well as to the existing county boroughs concerned.

It would be the aim that legislation would be enacted to give effect to any specific city boundary changes recommended by the commission so that the local elections to be held in June would take place within the expanded boundaries. Provision would be made for financial adjustments in appropriate respects between the city and county authorities in the event of boundary adjustment being effected on the recommendation of the commission.

Is the Minister of State aware of requests made by county councils — I am thinking in particular of Kildare County Council — that the number of councillors should be increased by 50 per cent and also that the town commission and urban district council areas within the county should be enlarged? Can the Minister of State promise that the new areas will be enforced and that the forthcoming elections will be fought in those areas?

Yes, but we are waiting for the commission's proposals. The commission will determine if additional seats are required. Local authorities were asked if they had any recommendations or suggestions to make and these are being taken into account.

The Minister of State is no doubt aware that a certain amount of notice would need to be given to areas where change is contemplated. Just like a greyhound in a box, one would need to know the distance of the race and the course one would be running over before one would be ready. Will this information be available this month as promised?

Included in the commission's terms of reference is the provision that they are to report by the end of February. One can only say they will report by the end of February.

Is the Minister of State confident the legislation will be introduced in time and that the elections will take place in June?

Yes.

Will the Minister of State tell us if the internal changes in electoral boundaries within counties will be a matter on which the commission will report or will it be done at the behest of a Government committee? I am talking about the expansion or contraction of internal electoral areas within a county.

The commission will make their submissions on that matter.

For each county?

Yes.

Will the commission meet representatives of the authorities in the various areas? Is that what the Minister of State said?

I do not think it will be a question of meetings because that will not be feasible. However, an advertisement was placed in the newspapers requesting submissions and they will be taken into account. With regard to meetings, that is a matter for the commission.

In the event of the commission not finding agreement in areas regarding extensions, what will be the position? Who will eventually make the decisions?

I am sure the Deputy has seen previous reports of commissions on electoral boundaries. They are put to Government and the Government have always accepted them. I have no doubt they will accept them again.

Can we get a definite assurance from the Minister of State that in the event of the commission finding wide disagreement in areas regarding extensions, the Government will accept the recommendations of the commission or will they make their own decision afterwards?

It would be rather imprudent of the Government to appoint a commission and then reject their findings. We have appointed a commission and we will accept their findings.

There are many findings still hanging around and nothing has been done about them.

I am merely saying that the precedent is there.

The Minister of State has said that the findings of the commission will be accepted. We had a letter from the Minister's Department asking if we wished to make recommendations. Is there much point in county councillors sending in recommendations if they have to work within the commission's proposals?

There is every point in councillors sending in submissions. All the submissions received will be of help to the commission but it is the commission who will ultimately decide. They have advertised in the newspapers on this matter and I know that they regard it seriously. I have no doubt they will take all recommendations into account.

14.