Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the revision of constituencies will be implemented; the range possible in the reduction in the number of TDs; if it is intended that a referendum on the future of Seanad Éireann and the revision of constituencies will occur at the same time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39369/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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On 27 July 2011, I established a Constituency Commission under the Electoral Act 1997 to review Dáil and European Parliament constituencies.

The terms of reference of the Commission were amended by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011. The revised terms of reference provide that a Constituency Commission will now recommend Dáil constituencies based on a reduced number of TDs between a minimum of 153 and a maximum of 160 subject to Article 16.2.2 of the Constitution.

The Commission is required to report to the Chairman of the Dáil no later than 3 months after the publication by Central Statistics Office of the final population results. I understand that these results are due to be published at the end of March 2012. It is a matter for the Oireachtas to revise the constituencies by enacting the relevant legislation. There is no requirement to hold a referendum to revise constituencies.