A Co Meath housing estate may be the worst in the State when it comes to having residents wrongly entered on the electoral register, according to a Labour candidate in the next general election.
Of the 51 people who are on the register in Congress Hall, Dunboyne, nearly a third no longer live there, and many people who have moved into the estate since the last election are not on the register.
In one house there are 11 people registered to vote but only three actually live there; the other eight have moved on.
Two doors down there are seven people from three families registered but just two from the same family are in residence. In the neighbouring house the only person registered to vote moved out 10 years ago.
With a general election due in the next 12 months, Meath county councillor Dominic Hannigan has warned that unless it is updated in time "the Taoiseach will be leaving himself open to the possibility of legal challenges to whatever the result may be".
He added: "Such a level of inaccuracy is appalling, and if we are serious about being a democracy they have to be put right. Until they are I think it would be very dangerous for a Taoiseach to call a general election."
Meanwhile yesterday morning officials from Louth County Council had staff at the train stations in Drogheda and Dundalk handing out electoral register application forms to commuters departing for Dublin. They also distributed information leaflets on how to apply online.
A spokesman said the council had identified commuters as its "target audience" as it is felt many people who have relocated to the county have not yet changed their details on the register.
According to Barry Eaton, from the corporate affairs department, "there are an abundance of citizens who have relocated to the county who either have not got around to updating their details on the register or who don't realise how quick and convenient the process online is".
