A SINN FÉIN TD has urged that extra flagpoles be provided at Dublin Castle so that the flags of all 32 counties can be flown in its courtyard – after noting that there were only enough poles to fly the flags of 26 counties there.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked whether his attention had been drawn to the issue, saying only 26 of the 32 historical counties of Ireland had their flags fluttering in the yard of the castle.

He was told by junior minister Brian Hayes, who is in charge of the Office of Public Works, that the number of flags on display at the castle is limited because the number of flagpoles available.

There are only 28 poles present, two of which are used for the Irish and EU flags – leaving only 26 left for use for county flags.

The remaining 26 flagpoles, however, are used to fly each of the 32 county flags in rotation.

Hayes said there were no plans to erect any new flagpoles for the time being.

The flagpoles are not intended specifically to fly the county flags, but rather the flags of the 27 European Union member states, plus the flag of the union as a whole.

The flags of all European states are only flown, however, on pan-European occasions or when Ireland holds the presidency of the European Union.