Dáil constituencies

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There are currently 40 multi-member constituencies, that elect 158 TDs (members of parliament), to Dáil Éireann, Ireland's house of representatives, by means of the single transferable vote, to a maximum term of five years.

Electoral law

Article 16.2 of the Constitution of Ireland outlines the requirements for constituencies. The total number of TDs is to be no more than one TD representing twenty thousand and no less than one TD representing thirty thousand of the population, and the ratio should be the same in each constituency, as far as practicable, avoiding malapportionment . Constituencies are to be revised at least once in every twelve years in accordance with the census reports, which are compiled by the Central Statistics Office every five years; under the Electoral Act 1997, a Constituency Commission is to be established after each census.[1] The Commission is independent and is responsible for the redrawing of constituency boundaries.[2] Members of the five person commission must be a Judge of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal or High Court as Chair, the Clerk of the Dáil, the Clerk of the Seanad, the Ombudsman, and the Secretary General of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Any alterations in the constituencies do not take effect during the life of the Dáil sitting when a revision is made.

The electoral system for general elections is proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote (PR-STV). Similarly, PR-STV is used in European Parliament elections, while by-elections (where this is only one vacancy) and presidential elections use alternative vote. The constitution specifies that the minimum number of TDs returned for each constituency is three, but does not define the maximum number; however, electoral law specifies a maximum number of five TDs.[3]

Current constituencies

For the 2016 general election, 158 TDs were elected from 40 constituencies. In June 2012 the Constituency Commission proposed changes to the constituencies to reduce the total number of TDs from 166 to 158 and the constituencies from 43 to 40.[4] The Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013 provided for this change and for changes to constituencies.

The 40 constituencies of Ireland (2016–present)
Constituency Population [5] Seats
Carlow–Kilkenny145,6595
Cavan–Monaghan120,4834
Clare111,3364
Cork East114,3654
Cork North-Central117,1704
Cork North-West86,5933
Cork South-Central117,9524
Cork South-West82,9523
Donegal152,3585
Dublin Bay North146,5125
Dublin Bay South116,3964
Dublin Central89,0303
Dublin Fingal141,1625
Dublin Mid-West110,4274
Dublin North-West90,5343
Dublin Rathdown87,4703
Dublin South-Central114,6604
Dublin South-West144,9085
Dublin West113,1794
Dún Laoghaire118,7914
Galway East89,5643
Galway West150,8745
Kerry145,5025
Kildare North115,3504
Kildare South59,1623
Laois87,7453
Limerick City113,8354
Limerick County83,8343
Longford–Westmeath116,8024
Louth143,2725
Mayo120,3324
Meath East86,5723
Meath West85,5503
Offaly87,6403
Roscommon–Galway84,5863
Sligo–Leitrim119,1534
Tipperary147,8015
Waterford113,7954
Wexford145,3205
Wicklow141,0125

Constituencies at the next general election

The 2017 report of the Constituency Commission,[6] proposed several changes to Dáil constituencies. These changes were provided for by the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017, and will come into effect at the next general election, which is due by 12 April 2021 at the latest, but may take place before then. The total number of TDs will increase by two to 160, while the number of constituencies will be reduced by one to 39, as well as minor boundary revisions.

Constituency Seats
Carlow–Kilkenny 5
Cavan–Monaghan 5
Clare 4
Cork East 4
Cork North-Central 4
Cork North-West 3
Cork South-Central 4
Cork South-West 3
Donegal 5
Dublin Bay North 5
Dublin Bay South 4
Dublin Central 4
Dublin Fingal 5
Dublin Mid-West 4
Dublin North-West 3
Dublin Rathdown 3
Dublin South-Central 4
Dublin South-West 5
Dublin West 4
Dún Laoghaire 4
Galway East 3
Galway West 5
Kerry 5
Kildare North 4
Kildare South 4
Laois–Offaly 5
Limerick City 4
Limerick County 3
Longford–Westmeath 4
Louth 5
Mayo 4
Meath East 3
Meath West 3
Roscommon–Galway 3
Sligo–Leitrim 4
Tipperary 5
Waterford 4
Wexford 5
Wicklow 5

Change in seats

This table summarises the changes in representation. It does not address revisions to the boundaries of constituencies.

Constituency Seats 2016 Seats 2021
Cavan–Monaghan 4 5
Dublin Central 3 4
Kildare South 3 4

Constituencies abolished

Constituency Seats Area now in
Laois 3 Laois–Offaly and Tipperary
Offaly 3 Laois–Offaly and Kildare South

New constituencies

Constituency Seats Area from
Laois–Offaly 5 Laois and Offaly

References

  1. ↑ "Electoral Act 1997". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Consultation Paper on the Establishment of an Electoral Commission in Ireland, (2015), Department of Environment, Community, and Local Government
  3. ↑ Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001, Office of the Attorney General
  4. ↑ "Summary of recommendation" (PDF). Constituency Commission. 21 June 2012.
  5. ↑ Collins, S, (2016), Election 2016; Constituency Profiles and Predictions, The Irish Times, Retrieved from http://www.irishtimes.com/election-2016/constituencies
  6. ↑ "Constituency Commission Report 2017" (PDF). Constituency Commission. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2018.

See also

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