Population changes could see 20% of constituencies altered

More than 20% of constituency boundaries will have to be changed based on latest population figures, it was claimed last night.

An academic maintained a further 26% of areas might also have to be altered ifthe Government decides to cut the number of sitting TDs to as low as 153. The constituency commission report is considering cutting the 166 Dáil seats by between six and 13.

NUI Maynooth’s Adrian Kavanagh said one option involves axing the Kerry North-West Limerick and Kerry South constituencies, and creating a five-seater Kerry county constituency.