IRELAND IS SET to get two new TDs following the next general election, and a number of areas will be gaining extra elected representatives.

The Constituency Commission Report 2017 has recommended that the number of TDs rises from 158 to 160 in the next Dáil term.

It has also proposed a number of changes to constituencies across the country, cutting the total number in the country to 39 (from 40).

The 39 constituencies will be split into 13 five-seaters, 17 four-seaters and nine three-seaters.

The number of three-seat constituencies will drop under the recommendations, while the number of five and four-seaters will rise.

The main changes will be:

• Cavan-Monaghan (taking some of population of the constituency of Meath East) will grow from a four to a five-seater
• Dublin Central will grow from a three-seater to a four-seater
• Kildare South will grow from a three-seater to a four-seater
• The constituencies of Laois and Offaly are to be merged into a single constituency and will lose a seat to become a five-seater

A number of boundary adjustments are recommended in other constituencies, but the number of seats in each are to stay the same.

In relation to constituencies for European elections, the Commission did not recommended any changes to the existing boundaries.

The Commission was set up on 14 July 2016 and its report was released this evening by the Department of Housing. It was set up following the 2016 Census of Population.

You can view the full report here.

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