Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland

The lower house of the Irish parliament, Dáil Éireann, currently contains 166 Teachtaí Dála (TDs), representing 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout the Republic of Ireland. Depending on its size, each constituency must have at least 3 members. There is no upper limit on the number of members elected however recent procedure means that constituencies have 3, 4 or 5 elected representatives. The current ratio indicates that there is one TD for every 23,598 people. Elections are held using the single transferable vote form of proportional representation.

Republic of Ireland Constituencies

As of the 2002 General Election Teachtaí Dála were elected for the following constituencies:

Changes for next election

In 2004 the report of the Constituency Commission ^*, an independent body established by the Irish Government to review constituency boundaries, proposed some major changes to Dáil constituencies. Five new constituencies will be created: Longford-Westmeath, Meath East, Meath West, Roscommon-South Leitrim and Sligo-North Leitrim. These will replace the four existing constituencies of Longford-Roscommon, Meath, Sligo-Leitrim and Westmeath. These new changes result in the creation of a 43rd constituency and the removal of the provincial boundary breach between Leinster and Connacht.

The number of seats is reduced in two constituencies: Cork North Central (from 5 to 4) and Dublin North Central (from 4 to 3). Two three-seater constituencies gain an extra seat: Dublin Mid West and Kildare North. There are further smaller boundary changes to eleven constituencies outside Dublin, These are: 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 have also been revised apart from Dublin South East and Dun Laoghaire.

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005 has implemented the boundary changes, to take effect at the next general election.

Historic changes

For 1992 election

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

For 1997 election

Mayo East (3) and Mayo West (3) replaced by Mayo (5)
Kildare (5) replaced by Kildare North (3) and Kildare South (3)
Galway East increased from 3 to 4
Tipperary South decreased from 4 to 3

For 2002 election

Dublin North East, Dublin North West and Dublin West go from 4 to 3 seats.
Dublin South Central goes from 4 to 5 seats.
Dublin South West goes from 5 to 4 seats.
Dublin Mid West is a new 3-seater.

External links

ElectionsIreland.org - Boundary Revisions

Politics of the Republic of Ireland | Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland

Wahlkreise (Irland) | Lijst van kiesdistricten in Ierland | 愛爾蘭下議院選區

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland