No change for Longford-Westmeath in boundary shuffle

The Longford-Westmeath constituency is to remain unchanged in a planned reshuffle of Dáil boundaries.

In a list of changes proposed by the Constituency Commission, the boundaries of the Longford-Westmeath constituency would not change, nor would the number of TDs, meaning the constituency would retain its four seats in Dáil Éireann.

It is one of just eight constituencies which would remain unaffected by the proposed reshuffle. Meath East, Meath West, Carlow-Kilkenny, Clare, Louth, Wexford, and Wicklow would also see no changes.

The report of the Constituency Commission recommends a reduction in the number of TDs nationally from 166 to 158, while the Dáil map would also be redrawn and the number of constituencies reduced from 43 to 40.

Under the new boundaries, the Laois-Offaly constituency would be no more. Instead, Offaly and part of northwest Tipperary would form a three-seat constituency, while Laois and some of Kildare would make up another three-seater.

The existing Roscommon-Leitrim constituency would also cease to exist. Roscommon county and part of east Galway would make up a new Roscommon-Galway constituency with three seats, while the remainder of Galway East would become another three-seat constituency.

Meanwhile Leitrim would move into a new constituency, Sligo-Leitrim.

In total, the commission recommends 11 five-seat areas, 16 four-seaters, and 13 three-seaters.

The recommendations of the commission are based on the 2011 Census figures and will be put into practice for the next general election. According to the Constitution, the ratio of Dáil members to constituents should be one per 20,000 to 30,000 of the population. With the recommended 158 TDs the ratio would be one to 29,039.

 

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