More TDs in next Dáil

An Coimisiún Toghcháin has concluded a consultation on the makeup of constituencies for the 34th Dáil ahead of the next election, which must take place by March 2025.

An Coimisiún Toghcháin was established as a statutory agency in February 2023 under the aegis of the Electoral Reform Act 2022. In practical terms, it is an electoral commission that merges the roles which were previously carried out by three statutory agencies: the Constituency Commission, the Referendum Commission, and the Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee.

The commission’s membership may consist of between seven and nine members: a chair appointed from the judiciary, two ex-officio members, and between four and six ordinary members.

With a population of 5,123,536 people and a total of 160 TDs, the average number of people per TD in the State is 32,022, meaning that an increase in the number of TDs will be required under the limits set within Bunreacht na hÉireann.

The Constitution states that political representation at Dáil level must have a minimum ratio of one member per 20,000 population, and a maximum ratio of one member per 30,000. 38 of the 39 Dáil constituencies in the State now show an average of over 30,000 people per TD, with Limerick County the only constituency still within the legal limits for representation. The constituency with the highest number of people per TD is Dublin Fingal, with 34,138 people per representative.

The Oireachtas has given An Coimisiún Toghcháin permission to increase the number of TDs in the next Dáil by between 11 and 21, meaning that there will be between 171 and 181 TDs in the next Dáil. In theory, if there were to be a TD for every 20,000 citizens in the State, the constitution would allow for the provision for as many as 250 TDs.

With the consultation closed for submissions, An Coimisiún Toghcháin will submit its report to the Oireachtas by August 2023.