Schools should not be used as voting stations

Community halls should be used as polling stations instead of schools.

Three councillors - Evie Sammon, Tracey O’Dwyer and Peggy O’Dwyer - have asked Kildare County Council to explore using these buildings where possible “to reduce the impact of school closures on working parents.”

Cllr Sammon said the closure of the schools for a day has led to complaints from parents about the need for additional childcare arrangements.

“It’s only for one day but parents have to find an extra day’s care,” she said, adding that this was not likely to change in time for the referendum of local elections.

The meeting heard that there is a cost for parents because of the practice of using school premises and this impacts a lot on families - when many towns have a number of community settings that could be used as voting stations.

Cllr Bill Clear said that the number of primary school days in Ireland is one of the lowest in Europe as it is.

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“This is real pain for parents; the longer children are in school the better,” added Cllr Clear.

KCC officials Eoghan Ryan said that while a number of halls are used throughout the county, the majority of polling stations are in schools, mainly primary schools.

He said these are used because they are convenient, accessible, regularly maintained with adequate heat and light, easily known and identified and inexpensive.

He added there is a current requirement for 280 rooms in the county and this “could not be accommodated through the use of other community buildings.”

Mr Ryan also said he would discuss the matter with the county registrar, who arranges the elections.

He added there is a legal obligation to provide sufficient polling stations which are conveniently distributed to accommodate voters.