Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland

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The lower house of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), Dáil Éireann, contains 166 Teachtaí Dála (TDs), representing 43 parliamentary constituencies throughout the Republic of Ireland. Depending on its size, each constituency must have at least 3 members. The most recent (Census 2011)^[1] ratio indicates that there is one TD for every 27,640 people. Elections are held using the single transferable vote form of proportional representation.

Changes for 2016 general election

In June 2012, the Constituency Commission proposed changes to the constituency map of Ireland so as to reduce the total number of TDs from 166 to 158 and the constituencies from 43 to 40.^[2] The Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013 provided for this change and for changes to constituencies.

Current constituencies

Dáil Éireann constituencies for the 2011 general election.

For the 2011 general election TDs were elected for the following constituencies:

2011 general election

The 2007 report of the Constituency Commission,^[3] an independent body established by the Government of Ireland to review constituency boundaries, proposed several changes to Dáil constituencies. These changes were provided for by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009. In July 2011 the Irish government established a commission to review to the current Dáil and European constituencies.^[4]

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

There were further boundary changes to 18 constituencies, these were: Cork East, Cork North–Central, Cork North–West, Donegal North–East, Donegal South–West, Dublin North, Dublin North–Central, Dublin North–East, Dublin South, Kerry South, Kildare North, Kildare South, Laois–Offaly, Meath East, Meath West, Roscommon–South Leitrim, Sligo–North Leitrim and Tipperary North.

Historic changes

2007 general election

Dáil Éireann constituencies for the 2007 general election.

In 2004 the report of the Constituency Commission,^[5] proposed major changes to Dáil constituencies. Five new constituencies were created under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005:

• Longford–Westmeath (4)
• Meath East (3)
• Meath West (3)
• Roscommon–South Leitrim (3)
• Sligo–North Leitrim (3)

These replaced the four existing constituencies of Longford–Roscommon, Meath, Sligo–Leitrim and Westmeath. These new changes resulted in the creation of a 43rd constituency and the removal of the provincial boundary breach between Leinster and Connacht.

The number of seats was reduced in two constituencies:

• Cork North–Central (from 5 to 4)
• Dublin North–Central (from 4 to 3)

Two three-seater constituencies gained an extra seat:

• Dublin Mid–West (from 3 to 4)
• Kildare North (from 3 to 4)

There were further smaller boundary changes to eleven constituencies outside Dublin, these were: Clare, Cork North–West, Cork South–Central, Cork South–West, Donegal North–East, Donegal South–West, Kerry North, Kerry South, Kildare South, Limerick East and Limerick West.

Boundaries for ten of the twelve Dublin constituencies were also revised apart from Dublin South–East and Dún Laoghaire.

2002 general election

• Dublin North–East, Dublin North–West and Dublin West were reduced from 4 to 3 seats
• Dublin South–Central was increased from 4 to 5 seats.
• Dublin South–West was reduced from 5 to 4 seats
• Dublin Mid West was a new 3-seater

1997 general election

• Mayo East (3) and Mayo West (3) were replaced by Mayo (5)
• Kildare (5) was replaced by Kildare North (3) and Kildare South (3)
• Galway East was increased from 3 to 4 seats
• Tipperary South was reduced from 4 to 3 seats

1992 general election

• Longford–Westmeath (4) and Roscommon (3) were replaced with Westmeath (3) and Longford–Roscommon (4)
• Dublin North was increased from 3 to 4 seats
• Dublin Central was reduced from 5 to 4 seats
• Dublin South–West was increased from 4 to 5 seats
• Dublin South–Central was reduced from 5 to 4 seats
• Dublin West was reduced from 5 to 4 seats
• Wicklow was increased from 4 to 5 seats

External links

• ElectionsIreland.org – Boundary Revisions
• Oireachtas.ie – Constituency Maps of Ireland

References