Dear Sir or Madam,

The constituency of Carlow Killkenny stretches broadly from the town of Carlow in the north of the county, to the Kilkenny side of the bridge over the River Suir at Waterford, a distance of approximately 77 km. Of the 5 elected TDs, 4 are from the Kilkenny area.

The 2022 census shows the population of Carlow at almost 61,931; Kilkenny at 103,685. 

According to the CSO, the population of Carlow increased by 9% between 2016 and 2022. The population of Kilkenny increases by 5%, one of the four counties with the lowest population growth during the same period.

The joining of Carlow to Kilkenny for Dáil Éireann electoral purposes disadvantages the people of County Carlow in representation in their national parliament. 

Máire Doody