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An official putting a ballot into the slot for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar after the 2020 Irish General Election count for the constituency of Dublin West. Alamy Stock Photo

We're about to find out how many more TDs Ireland is getting - here's why

The review of Dáil and European Parliament constituency boundaries will be published on Wednesday.

NERVES WILL BE running high for Irish politicians next week as the highly anticipated Electoral Commission review which has the potential to shake-up the political arithmetic of the Dáil in the future is published. 

The review of Dáil and European Parliament constituency boundaries will be published on Wednesday.

While it has been a somewhat quiet summer on the political front – with crime in the capital largely taking up the headline space over the last two months – TDs and MEPs currently in office, as well as aspiring politicians, will very much be all ears on the media come 30 August.

That morning, the report will set out not only how many TDs the next Dáil will have, but from where they will be elected. And we’re more than likely see fewer constituencies match county boundaries. 

So, what’s it all about?

The Electoral Commission is independent of the Government and reports directly to the Oireachtas.

It finally got Cabinet approval and got up and running in 2022, many years after it was first mooted.

In 2006, the Commission on Electoral Voting recommended the establishment of a commission, with Enda Kenny’s government promising to introduce it.

In January 2016, a Joint Oireachtas committee also published a report into the setting up of an Electoral Commission. 

The work of the new commission will include existing statutory functions like the registration of political parties and will take over the work of the Referendum Commission. 

The Commission will also be responsible for regulation of online political advertising during elections, oversee the electoral register and promote public awareness of referendums.

However, its taking over of the Constituency Commission and the Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees which will garner attention next week. 

What’s the Constituency Review about?

After every Census there is a review of the composition and boundaries of the Dáil constituencies.

Our Constitution deems that there must be, on average, one TD to represent every 20,000 to 30,000 people in the country.

Our electoral laws also set out further criteria for Constituency Reviews, outlining that each constituency will be comprised of 3, 4 or 5 members and that in its review, the commission must consider significant geographic, population density and physical features of a constituency.

The Electoral Commission must also try and maintain as much continuity of electoral areas as possible. Despite these intentions, geographical changes are inevitable so there are fears among politicians that tinkering with constituency lines will result in the loss of votes. 

And in an election, every vote counts. 

How many TDs could we have in the Dáil after the next General Election?

As part of the boundary review, the Oireachtas directed that there should be between 171 and 181 TD’s following the next General Election.

The mood music across the political landscape is the final number will be at the top end of the scale, so most likely 180.

At the end of May, the CSO said Ireland’s population had increased by 8% to 5.15 million in Census 2022.

Under the Irish constitution, the number of members of Dáil Eireann cannot be fixed at “less than one member for each 30,000 of the population or at more than one member for each 20,000 of the population”.

The ratio between the number of elected members for each constituency and the population of each constituency should, where practicable, be the same throughout the country.

As there are currently 160 TDs in the Dáil representing 39 electoral constituencies, and based on the population-based calculation, Ireland falls far short of the number of TDs there should be.  

The Commission will also be making its recommendation in relation to the European Parliament. This will be based on the current number of MEP seats rather than the proposed, but still unconfirmed additional seat for Ireland.

What to look out for? 

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe has said there is “red-hot interest” across the political system for the upcoming completion of the electoral constituency review. 

In Dublin, it is suspected that the commission has drawn the boundary lines outward from the Liffey. Other areas under the spotlight are regions with the biggest population growth such as Louth, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, as well as west Dublin and Fingal. 

Wexford, Carlow and Tipperary are also mooted to see changes. 

What is likely to rock the boat? 

Well, a great many things, to be honest.

There will be fears of hatchet jobs being done on some constituencies that will leave politicians being transplanted into other areas where they haven’t been putting in the ground work over the years. 

But one of the biggest issues is that a decision was previously made by Government to limit constituencies to three, four or five-seaters.

Parties of the left, including Sinn Fein, Labour and People Before Profit all advocated for bigger constituencies. They also made submissions for the reduction in the number of three-seaters, which they argued worked in favour of the larger parties.

However, six-seat constituencies have been ruled out. 

The commission therefore only has the choice of two three-seat constituencies or to create a five-seat constituency and move one TD over to its neighbouring constituency, which will give some politicians heart palpitations if there is a possibility of being parachuted into constituencies they are largely unknown in.  

Where will all the new politicians sit? 

The Dáil chamber can only fit so many TDs, so work will have to be undertaken to make room for newly elected politicians if the Dáil expands to over 180 TDs. 

The Office of Public Works (OPW) told The Journal that it is planning works to the main chamber to accommodate additional TD numbers and is examining the property within the complex to identify where potential extra numbers can be accommodated.  

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    Mute The Brass Rat
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    Mar 27th 2013, 8:02 PM

    All it will take is another crash of any sort in Europe and the same could happen here.

    Im seriously wondering if its best to keep whatever cash you have in the gaff in either sterling or dollars.

    55
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    Mute gerbreen
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    Mar 27th 2013, 8:10 PM

    AIB 2.8 B2B loss today .. And surely they have yet to understand scale of their losses?

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    Mute Katrina Carroll
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    Mar 27th 2013, 8:12 PM

    My good ole grandad didnt believe in banks.. Hid his money in a rip in his mattress.

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    Mute Philip eeno
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    Mar 27th 2013, 8:51 PM

    @katrina
    A valid point katrina and i still Know plenty of people who do this but sadly there are people out there willing to kill to rob 20 or 50 euros, what chance would we have if they knew we kept all our wages at home.

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    Mute Nash Bridges
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    Mar 27th 2013, 9:05 PM

    If you can only withdraw €300 then they are not really open. These controls exist in the hope that people will eventually leave their money in the country but many will withdraw all as soon as it is possible. Mortal damage has been done to Cyprus banks and there is no going back now.

    46
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    Mute Darren Ó hUiginn
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    Mar 27th 2013, 7:50 PM

    So the banks don’t actually have the money?

    35
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    Mute Kevin Shaw
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    Mar 27th 2013, 7:54 PM

    They didn’t have it in cash.

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    Mute Darren Ó hUiginn
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    Mar 27th 2013, 8:00 PM

    I’ve been trying to grasp the banking system for a few years, best stick my money in the ground, tinfoil hat on of course.

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    Mute Shane King
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    Mar 27th 2013, 8:02 PM

    i think for every Euro you lodge into the bank they can loan out 10 euro off it.

    42
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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    Mar 27th 2013, 8:23 PM

    No, for every Euro they have in risk capital they can lend out 12 of your euros. If they can’t get it back, however, well…………….

    23
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    Mute Philip eeno
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    Mar 27th 2013, 8:48 PM

    Darren the banks never actaully have the money, thats what few people here realise when they say we shouldn’t have taken the bail out. They lend out nearly all the money you put in and charge people high interest, thats how they make profit. No bank on earth could handle everyone wanting to take there money out at the same time cause it aint even there.

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    Mute mohamad oconnor
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    Mar 28th 2013, 12:06 AM

    None of them do Darren not the ones here or anywhere else! Get yours before its too late!!

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Mar 27th 2013, 9:24 PM

    Reminds me of the good old days. Currency crises, limited amount of money your allowed to take out of your account or out of your country. So much for the plan that the Euro would ease money problems across Europe.

    24
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    Mute Seamus Foskin
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    Mar 28th 2013, 2:44 AM

    @Kerry Blake do your self a favour and set up a bank account in the uk and transfer some savings over there and into sterling. they will start stealing from our bank accounts over here soon

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    Mute Mick Madden
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    Mar 27th 2013, 11:36 PM

    Watch gold bullion shoot up in value. Even better invest in wine

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    Mute Joe Power
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    Mar 28th 2013, 2:33 AM

    Tomorrow is going to be interesting.

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    Mute Barry
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    Mar 28th 2013, 6:08 AM

    Leave the banks fail they said,…….

    Cyprus came much more closer to a banking collapse then ireland did and look what happened just for a few days.

    Yet, people wanted the likes of AIB to fail, you’d all by crying about the failings of the government if that was allowed to happen.

    We never had any sort of run on the banks, we’re also now in far far better shape the Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, Greece or Italy.

    3
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    Mute Ciaran Whyte
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    Mar 28th 2013, 8:13 AM

    Shhhhh Barry, you’re not allowed talk sense. Just mindlessly/moronically shout “Down with the banks”

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    Mute Barry
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    Mar 28th 2013, 8:39 AM

    Sorry Ciaran :(
    I guess its important I agree with the usual nonsense

    - Ireland is next
    - Cyprus has sold its soul
    - The revolution will happen
    - Scrap the euro
    - leave the banks fail

    Any other nonsense I should say, Oh yeah…its all the governments fault!

    funny how EVERY country just blames their government or party in power but they don’t think for a second that its a WORLDWIDE issue and its not down to just one party or government.

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    Mute haram halal
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    Mar 28th 2013, 5:34 AM

    The Frankfurt bankits are stupid . All trust in banking in the Eurozone has been undermined permanently. All because the Frankfurt wealth management companies wanted to push the oligarch deposits out of Cyprus and into markets the German s run . In addition the Cypriot government have broken EU law by their restrictions , but like the illegal Irish taxation on vehicles from within the EU , Bruxelles will look the other way . Bankers in Europe have not learnt the lessons they are still reckless time to pay the piper . Start jailing dodgy bank officials and we ll see how long reckless lasts. Financial contagion has hit Europe , the Euro is doomed

    3
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