Shaking up the Dáil

Politicians fret as ‘battle between maths and geography’ could cost votes

Several established politicians could be at risk despite an increase in the number of TDs at the next election

Ms Justice Marie Baker, the chairwoman of An Coimisiún Toghcháin; Art O’Leary, the chief executive, and Tim Carey, the dead of electoral operations, at the Electoral Commission press conference. Picture: Fergal Phillips

The Electoral Commission’s extensive redrawing of constituency boundaries will deliver 14 more TDs to Dáil Éireann at the next election but could cost some well-known representatives crucial elements of their support base.

More than 200 electoral divisions have been moved across constituencies to facilitate consistency of representation across the country in what Art O’Leary, the commission chief executive, described as a “battle between maths and geography”.

The commission also recommended that the number of constituencies ...