A starting gun for the next Irish general election has been fired with the redrawing of new electoral boundaries.
The changes, ushered in by constitutional rules about the country’s growing population, are part of Electoral Commission recommendations for 14 additional TDs and four further Dail constituencies.
Several TDs have already decried the commission’s plan as being a “hatchet job” or making “no sense”, but others will be happy with what the proposals mean for their chances in a rumoured November election next year.
A selection of high-profile incumbents will be happy with the adjustments to their electoral areas.
The growth of population in Irish premier Leo Varadkar’s constituency of Dublin West – and the absorption of parts of Dublin North West – has resulted in an extra seat becoming available in the next election.
The Taoiseach’s Fine Gael running-mate Emer Currie failed to be elected as a TD in the constituency, which also features Minister Roderic O’Gorman and Minister of State Jack Chambers, but she is currently serving as a senator.
There will be some more breathing room for the incumbents in Cork South-Central, which also features three senior ministers.
The constituency which elected Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire, Ireland’s deputy premier and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath (FF) and Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney (FG) has picked up an extra seat.
Speaking at an event in Cork, Mr Coveney said the change was “necessary and appropriate”.
Among the most surprising lines being drawn were those that carved Wicklow and Wexford into three constituencies.
There are a lot of close links between people in South Wicklow and North Wexford and I guess this will mean we will be even closer— Malcolm Byrne
The old Wicklow and Wexford constituencies will lose a seat each, down from five to four, in a major change which sees territory from each area being transferred to create the new three-seat constituency of Wicklow-Wexford – representing an overall increase of one TD.
It could cause headaches for sitting TDs in both counties, but analysts quickly realised it spelled good news for erstwhile deputy Malcolm Byrne.
No sitting TD lives in the area which falls into the new Wicklow-Wexford constituency, which may give the Gorey native and Fianna Fail senator the upper hand in the next election.
Mr Byrne said: “There are a lot of close links between people in South Wicklow and North Wexford and I guess this will mean we will be even closer.”
As expected, the five-seat Fingal constituency has also been carved up by the independent Electoral Commission into Fingal East and Fingal West, now with three seats each.
Fianna Fail’s Housing and Local Government Minister Darragh O’Brien, who has responsibility for electoral reform, will be happy that Fingal East neatly encompasses his Malahide base.
Across the dividing line, Fine Gael Senator Regina Doherty has signalled a run for the Dail in the Fingal West constituency.
She tweeted: “From better transport, to safer streets, community infrastructure and housing affordability, the issues that motivate me are the issues I’ll continue to champion in the brand new #DublinFingalWest constituency.
“Excited to continue my work for this fast-growing region.”
On the wider picture, there has been an overall increase in the number of five-seat constituencies, up to 15, with this traditionally being seen as advantageous to smaller parties.
