No major changes for Limerick following review of Dáil constituencies and boundaries

THERE will no significant changes to Dáil boundaries in Limerick at the next general election, it has been confirmed.

An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s Independent Electoral Commission, has published its recommendations to the Oireachtas on the make-up of Ireland’s electoral constituencies following a comprehensive review.

Nationally, the Commission recommends that the next Dáil would see the number of TDs increase from 160 to 174 representing 43 Dáil constituencies, up from the current 39.

There will be no change to the Limerick County constituency which will remain a three-seat constituency while the Commission has recommended that around 4,600 people in County Tipperary who are currently included in the Limerick City constituency be transferred to a newly-formed Tipperary North constituency.

The Limerick City constituency will remain a four-seater.

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There had been speculation that parts of the Clare constituency, located close to the city, would be transferred to the Limerick City constituency but this will not now be the case.

"While there has been an increase in population in County Clare, in the interest of retaining both county boundaries and maintaining continuity, it was decided to leave the Clare constituency unchanged," states the report.

The Commission, which was tasked with carrying out a review following the publication of the Census results, was bound by the Constitutional requirement of one TD for every 20,000-30,000 people.

The Oireachtas had directed that the number of TDs should rise to between 171 and 181 from the current 160.

More to follow....