Constituency plan ‘will push out Independents and small parties’

DRAMATIC changes in Dáil constituencies announced yesterday could militate against smaller parties and Independent candidates at the next General Election.

The Constituency Commission has proposed increasing the number of constituencies from 42 to 43 and creating additional three-seat constituencies bringing the total to 18, compared to 12 five-seaters.

The Labour Party, Green Party, Sinn Féin and Independent TDs criticised the move towards more three-seaters, saying the revisions would firmly favour larger parties. Green party chairman John Gormley said it would make it more difficult for smaller parties and Independents to win seats.