Donnelly and Sherlock among politicians who face fight to retain seat

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

The starting gun has been fired for the next general election, with some high-profile politicians facing a dogfight to retain their seats after the new constituency boundaries were announced.

The number of TDs in the next Dáil will increase by 14 — from 160 to 174 — the Electoral Commission announced on Wednesday. However, that decision is being seen as ‘conservative’, given that the commission had the scope to increase it to 181.