To Whom it May Concern

I would like to make the following points in relation to the Boundary Review.

• The small area of Laytown – Bettystown currently in the Louth Constituency should be moved back into the Meath East Constituency.
• Meath has seen the biggest population increase since the last census and is continuing to grow.
• Louth could maintain a 5 seater with its current population, without the Laytown-Bettystown piece included.
• Local government operates entirely on the basis of traditional county boundaries and therefore the current arrangement leaves half of the Laytown-Bettystown Municipal District in the Meath East Constituency and half in the Louth Constituency. This very confusing and has left a sense of disconnect for the population annexed to Louth.
• This can be seen in the turnout at the last General Election. Turnout in Louth (Co Louth only) was 63%, in Meath it was 64%, and the Laytown-Bettystown area in the Louth constituency it was 55%. A clear indication that there is a sense of detachment among the community.
• Evidence would suggest that restoring the Meath County Boundary would leave a very easy solution of providing two 4 seater constituencies in Meath East and Meath West, this helping to engage the affected communities and restore voter turnout.