Significant changes in the boundaries of local authorities, in Dublin and the rest of the State, are being proposed in the new Boundary Committee reports. The two reports, published yesterday, will have a major impact on the outcome of the local elections to be held next June.
Though the number of local councillors, at national and county level, will remain the same, the Electoral Area Boundary Committees for Dublin and the rest of the State have presented a major redrawing of local boundaries to achieve equity in the distribution of seats.
The biggest changes are recommended in Dublin County Borough where four new electoral areas are created: Ballymun-Whitehall, Cabra-Glasnevin, Crumlim-Kimmage and South-West Inner City. The Taoiseach's old base, Drumcondra, is gone. Ballyfermot and Pembroke lose a seat each while the South-East Inner City loses two seats.
In Fingal, Balbriggan and Howth are awarded one fewer seat each while Mulhuddart and Swords get an extra seat each.
In Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, the Clonskeagh three-seater is gone to make way for an extra seat each in Ballybrack and Dun Laoghaire, two extra seats in a Dundrum six-seater. Stillorgan drops a seat to become a three-seater.
In South Dublin, there is an extensive redrawing of local constituencies. The Greenhills four-seater is gone and the separate Rathfarnham and Terenure areas are replaced with two fewer seats in a new Terenure-Rathfarnham seven-seater. Clondalkin gets two extra seats. Tallaght-Oldbawn and Tallaght-Rathcoole, both three-seaters, are replaced by two new five-seaters, Tallaght Central and Tallaght South.
The Boundary Committee for outside the Dublin areas has also recommended major changes in many of the boundaries of electoral areas in county councils, county boroughs, borough corporations and urban districts. They are already exciting interest among TDs and Senators in the run-up to next year's elections.
Carlow town's immediate hinterland is moved to Carlow electoral area from Muinebeag electoral area and split into two local constituencies.
Minor changes are proposed in Cavan to bring areas focused on Virginia into Ballyjamesduff, and bring Waterloo out of Cavan electoral area into Bailieborough.
There are a number of changes to Clare County Council, among them the adding of Ennis's immediate hinterland to Ennis electoral area to make a seven-seater.
Shifts are also evident in Co Cork's Northern and Southern Divisions relating to Mallow, Kanturk, Bandon, Blarney and a new Fermoy.
A new three-seater of Stranorlar is created in Donegal and Buncrana is renamed as Inishowen. A new seven-seat Connemara electoral area, west of the River Corrib, is among the changes in Galway.
The existing mid-Kerry electoral area is being divided to create a Dingle three-seater and a Tralee seven-seater.
Kildare is subject to significant changes, centring on Celbridge, Newbridge and Athy.
Adding the immediate hinterland of Kilkenny to its own electoral area of seven seats is among the reforms proposed. There are shifts too in Laois. No change is recommended for Leitrim.
The membership of Bruff and Castleconnell is increased in Limerick County Council.
There are also realignments in Longford, Louth, Mayo, but none in Monaghan.
A seat is transferred to Dunshaughlin from Ceannanus Mor in Co Meath and the town is renamed Kells to reflect the legal change made to its name.
There are changes in Offaly and Roscommon. Sligo electoral area is enlarged, and both Tipperary NR and Tipperary SR have territorial changes.
Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow County Councils also experience population shifts in their electoral areas.
In the four county boroughs, there are only minor moves in territory in Cork; electoral divisions are moved in Galway; there are two seat transfers in Limerick and one seat transfer in Waterford.
