Government TDs face anxious future as key constituencies lose seats

THE number of TDs in the next Dáil will be chopped from 166 to 158 as part of a fundamental overhaul of constituencies.

The number of constituencies will drop from 43 to 40, with the existing boundaries redrawn in a number of them.

The changes have been recommended by the independent Constituency Commission, established under law to ensure the population of each constituency is sufficiently represented.