TD numbers to remain despite constituency changes, says commission

The number of Dáil TDs should remain at 166 but changes must be made to several constituencies, a state body said today.

The Constituency Commission recommended that Louth should move from four to five seats while Dublin West also goes from three to four.

It suggested Dun Laoghaire and Limerick East should each lose one of their five TDs. Limerick East will be renamed Limerick City.

It is also advised that Kerry North be renamed Kerry North West and Limerick West be known simply as Limerick.

In addition, the Commission also recommended revision of boundaries around 20 other constituencies. No changes will be made in 19 other constituencies.

For the European Parliament, it suggested the Dublin constituency lose one of its MEPs and that Longford and Westmeath be transferred from the East constituency to the North-West.

Today’s report was presented to Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue and delivered to all TDs and Senators.

It used figures from the 2006 Census to ensure an equitable representation of TDs in line with population fluctuations.

The commission, which was established under law by the Minister for the Environment this year, received 173 submissions from political parties, politicians and citizens over the summer.

Under the Constitution, the number of TDs in the Dáil shall not be fixed at less than one for each 30,000 of the population, or at more than one member for each 20,000 of the population.

Two politicians and a Dublin West constituent took an unsuccessful High Court challenge earlier this year in relation to the manner in which the electoral constituencies had been revised.