The Constituency Commission has recommended an increase in the number of Dáil constituencies but says that the number of TDs should remain at 166.
As expected, the Commission in its report on Dáil constituencies to the Ceann Comhairle, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, also recommended extra seats for the three-seat constituencies of Dublin Mid-West and Kildare North following the 2002 census which showed those constituencies had too few TDs.
The five-seat Meath constituency, whose population warrants an extra seat, is to be split into two, bringing up the number of constituencies from 42 to 43.
The two new constituencies are Meath-East and Meath-West; part of the latter will contain some of neighbouring Co Westmeath. Both constituencies will have three seats each.
There will also be a new constituency configuration in the North Connacht and North Leinster areas.
The four-seat Sligo-Leitrim will become the three-seat Sligo-North-Leitrim, while, the four-seat Longford-Roscommon will become the three-seat Roscommon-South-Leitrim.
As part of the old constituency of Westmeath is recommended to become part of Meath-West, the other part will form the new constituency of Longford-Westmeath (four-seats).
The recommendations for Dublin retain the existing 47 seats spread over 12 constituencies, but with a new configuration.
The arrangement would see three five-seat constituencies, five four-seaters and four three-seaters. The new arrangement transfers almost 31,000 population in major boundary adjustments affecting six constituencies and minor adjustments affecting four others.
The other changes recommended by the Commission in Dublin are as follows:
- The transfer from Dublin-North to Dublin-West of 3,927 population in the St Margaret's/Kilsallaghan area west of Dublin Airport
- The transfer from Dublin-West to Dublin North-West of 1,106 population in the Dunsink Cappagh area
- The transfer from Dublin-Central to Dublin South-Central of 955 population in Islandbridge
- The transfer from Dublin-South to Dublin South-West of 1,995 population in the Firhouse area west of the M50