Elections to the Gaeltacht authority, Udaras na Gaeltachta, seem set to go ahead before Christmas, in spite of an attempt by serving authority members to have them postponed until next year.
The Minister of State for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Mr Eamon O Cuiv, has said he does not favour any further delay, and sees no reason why the poll cannot be held during the winter when people in rural areas have more time on their hands.
The weather has "never stopped people voting", Mr O Cuiv said. The Udaras elections were to have been held on June 11th, the same day as the European and local plebiscite. Last April, the Minister of State announced that a short Bill would be presented to the Oireachtas, extending the longest permissible interval between elections to an tUdaras from five years to five years and six months.
The request for a second delay - which would have extended the lifespan of the current authority to six years - came in a resolution passed at a special Udaras na Gaeltachta board meeting last Saturday.
The motion requested the vote be put back on the basis that a December poll would be "very unsuitable".
However, it is understood that existing board members who are also elected councillors were concerned about the "fatigue factor" after the June vote, and the threat posed by potential community candidates.
It was felt that a significant time lapse between the local poll and the Udaras vote would ensure a better reception on the doorsteps.
The Government is already anxious to expand the authority, and the second stage of new legislation drawn up to increase the Udaras board from seven to 16 people was listed for the Dail this week.
The expanded representation would mean that Galway would have five board members; Donegal four; Mayo and Kerry would have two each; and Meath, Cork and Waterford one each.
The Bill also includes provision for the appointment of a chairman and two further members by the Minister.
These "two further members" would be representatives from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, and the Department of Finance.
The Bill allows for regional Udaras committees to be established on a statutory basis, and proposes that new procedures be put in place in relation to developments at the level of Udaras chief executive, the regional committees, and the authority itself.
Plans to redraw Gaeltacht boundaries are not provided for - being too controversial, perhaps - although it is widely recognised that some Gaeltacht areas have undergone significant population change.
The board of Udaras currently comprises 13 members, seven of whom are elected by the people of the Gaeltacht. The remaining six are nominated by the Minister.
