Dáil constituencies


There are 39 multi-member constituencies, that elect 160 TDs, to Dáil Éireann, Ireland's house of representatives, by means of the single transferable vote, to a maximum term of five years.

Electoral law

Article 16.2 of the Constitution of Ireland outlines the requirements for constituencies. The total number of TDs is to be no more than one TD representing twenty thousand and no less than one TD representing thirty thousand of the population, and the ratio should be the same in each constituency, as far as practicable, avoiding malapportionment. Constituencies are to be revised at least once in every twelve years in accordance with the census reports, which are compiled by the Central Statistics Office every five years; under the Electoral Act 1997, a Constituency Commission is to be established after each census. The Commission is independent and is responsible for the redrawing of constituency boundaries. Members of the five person commission must be a Judge of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal or High Court as Chair, the Clerk of the Dáil, the Clerk of the Seanad, the Ombudsman, and the Secretary General of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Any alterations in the constituencies do not take effect during the life of the Dáil sitting when a revision is made.
The electoral system for general elections is proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. Similarly, PR-STV is used in European Parliament elections, while by-elections and presidential elections use alternative vote. The constitution specifies that the minimum number of TDs returned for each constituency is three, but does not define the maximum number; however, electoral law specifies a maximum number of five TDs.

Current constituencies

The 2017 report of the Constituency Commission, proposed several changes to Dáil constituencies. These changes were provided for by the Electoral Act 2017, and came into effect at the 2020 general election. The total number of TDs increased by two to 160, while the number of constituencies was reduced by one to 39, as well as minor boundary revisions.
ConstituencySeats
Carlow–Kilkenny5
Cavan–Monaghan5
Clare4
Cork East4
Cork North-Central4
Cork North-West3
Cork South-Central4
Cork South-West3
Donegal5
Dublin Bay North5
Dublin Bay South4
Dublin Central4
Dublin Fingal5
Dublin Mid-West4
Dublin North-West3
Dublin Rathdown3
Dublin South-Central4
Dublin South-West5
Dublin West4
Dún Laoghaire4
Galway East3
Galway West5
Kerry5
Kildare North4
Kildare South4
Laois–Offaly5
Limerick City4
Limerick County3
Longford–Westmeath4
Louth5
Mayo4
Meath East3
Meath West3
Roscommon–Galway3
Sligo–Leitrim4
Tipperary5
Waterford4
Wexford5
Wicklow5

Change in seats

This table summarises the changes in representation. It does not address revisions to the boundaries of constituencies.
ConstituencySeats 2016Seats 2020
Cavan–Monaghan45
Dublin Central34
Kildare South34

Constituencies abolished

New constituencies