Written answers

Thursday, 16 February 2023

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Election Management System

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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231. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of TDs per head of population in 1922 and for every ten years to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7835/23]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The table below sets out the membership of Dáil Éireann from 1923 and every 10 years thereafter and includes the number of TDs per head of population in each of those years by reference to the relevant Census. In addition, it should be noted that constituency reviews were specifically undertaken in the years 1923, 1935, 1947, 1961, 1969, 1974, 1980, 1983, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017 and that information in respect of each of these years is also included in the table below for completeness:

Year
Number of TDs
Act establishing the number of TDs
Population
Census
Number of TDs per head of population
1923
147
Electoral Act 1923
3,139,688
1911
21,358
1933
147
Electoral Act 1923
2,971,992
1926
20,218
1935
138
Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935
2,971,992
1926
21,536
1943
138
Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935
2,968,420
1936
21,510
1947
147
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947
2,955,107
1946
20,103
1953
147
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947
2,960,593
1951
20,140
1961
144
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1961
2,898,264
1956
20,127
1963
144
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1961
2,818,341
1961
19,572
1969
144
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1969
2,884,002
1966
20,028
1973
144
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1969
2,978,248
1971
20,682
1974
148
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974
2,978,248
1971
20,123
1980
166
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1980
3,368,217
1979
20,290
1983
166
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1983
3,443,405
1981
20,743
1990
166
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1990
3,540,643
1986
21,329
1993
166
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1990
3,525,719
1991
21,239
1995
166
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1995
3,525,719
1991
21,239
1998
166
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1998
3,626,087
1996
21,844
2003
166
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1998
3,917,203
2002
23,598
2005
166
Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005
3,917,203
2002
23,598
2009
166
Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009
4,239,848
2006
25,541
2013
158
Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013
4,588,252
2011
29,040
2017
160
Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017
4,761,865
2016
29,762

It should also be noted that the number of TDs specified in the first two rows of the table above, in respect of the years 1923 and 1933 respectively, excludes 6 seats set aside for the two university constituencies of Dublin University (3 seats) and the National University of Ireland (3 seats).

The recently established electoral commission - An Coimisiún Toghcháin - is currently undertaking a review of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies in line with its functions under the Electoral Reform Act 2022. That Act provides that the Report of An Coimisiún in respect of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies will be completed and published within three months of the publication of final Census results. With the final Census results expected by the end of May, I expect that the report from An Coimisiúnwill be available by the end of August 2023.

The final determination of constituencies for Dáil Éireann following its next dissolution will be a matter for the Oireachtas to prescribe in legislation having regard to the recommendations of An Coimisiún.

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