Local TDs welcome decision not to change Clare Dáil constituency for next general election

A NUMBER of sitting Clare TDs have welcomed confirmation that the current Clare Dáil constituency will not be changing at the next general election.

An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s Independent Electoral Commission, has published its recommendations to the Oireachtas on the make-up of Ireland’s electoral constituencies following a comprehensive review.

There had been speculation that parts of the Clare constituency would be transferred to the Limerick City constituency but this will not now be the case.

"While there has been an increase in population in County Clare, in the interest of retaining both county boundaries and maintaining continuity, it was decided to leave the Clare constituency unchanged," states the 155-page report.

No changes in Clare following review of Dáil constituencies and boundaries

Fianna Fail TD Cathal Crowe has welcomed the recommendations of the Commission.

"Glad that the entirety of Clare will again form the ‘Clare Constituency’ in the next election. There were some who wanted the Parteen - Ardnacrusha - Westbury - Shannon Banks area to leave the constituency but that, thankfully, won’t be happening," he commented.

Independent TD Michael McNamara has also welcomed the decision not to change the current boundary or the number of seats in Clare.

"Being from East Clare I would have travelled into Limerick city most Saturdays in my youth. You were very keenly aware of when you crossed over the River Shannon at Corbally and obviously as a TD for Clare, I am honoured to represent all of County Clare, and I am happy the county boundaries will be respected for the next election. Changing the boundary was an objective of the Electoral Commission but is not one that they managed to achieve," he stated.

While Wednesday's report has been welcomed by TDs in the Banner County, one government TD from Limerick disagrees with the Commission's recommendation.

Reacting to the report, Green Party TD Brian Leddin commented: "The natural economic and administrative catchment of Limerick city very much includes the suburbs of Westbury and Shannon Banks as well as Ardnacrusha and Parteen. While previously these areas were part of the Limerick city constituency, they are currently split away from it in the Clare constituency. This incoherence means that the residents of those suburbs are represented by politicians of a largely rural constituency, whose urban centre is 41 km away in Ennis, despite the fact that those residents are living in areas that are contiguous to Limerick city."

The Commission, which was tasked with carrying out a review following the publication of the Census results, was bound by the Constitutional requirement of one TD for every 20,000-30,000 people.

The Oireachtas had directed that the number of TDs should rise to between 171 and 181 from the current 160.