Daniel McConnell: Does Ireland really need up to 20 extra TDs?

The commission has until July to return to Government with its plan for the next Dáil, including how many TDs there should be, and where boundaries for constituencies start and stop

Another reason to increase TDs is to correct the impact of reducing the number of TDs from 166 to 158 by the then Fine Gael-led Government under Enda Kenny, done on the grounds of making austerity savings.

Does Ireland — with its population of just over 5m people — really need 18 or 20 more TDs in Dáil Éireann?

Well, that is what is going to happen.