The election for the next Seanad will take place at the end of April under an order signed by the Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly.

Polling will close for the five vocational panels on April 25th and for the two university panels on April 26th.

As the 31st Dáil was dissolved on February 3rd, the election for the new Seanad must take place by May 3rd. Ballot papers will be issued to the electorate on April 11th and will have to be returned by 11am on April 25th.

The electorate for the vocational panels is made up of county councillors and the members of the Dáil and Seanad. For the two university constituencies nominations will close on March 3rd and the ballot papers will be issued on March 21st with the polls closing at 11am on April 26th.

The Seanad is made up of 60 members with 43 being elected by the vocational panels, six by the university constituencies and 11 nominated by the taoiseach.