For the past decade, Ireland’s population has been rising by approx. 1% per year, through a combination of natural increase and immigration. This trend can only be expected to continue, given the current geopolitical situation and the growth of the Irish economy.

Dún Laoghaire’s population per TD of 33,076, is 3.29% above the national average. Dún Laoghaire’s boundaries include the new town of Cherrywood, which is under rapid construction. This town is projected to house 25,000 people.

Noting that the “the Commission shall endeavour to maintain continuity in relation to the arrangement of constituencies.”, it would be desirable if the current changes would endure beyond the next 5 year election cycle, so that the next redrawing would take place in about a decade. For this reason, I suggest that the upper end of the scale or approx. 180 members be elected to the next Dáil.

I also suggest that one of those seats be allocated to Dún Laoghaire, to avoid the need to compensate for the rapid growth of new housing in Cherrywood  in 5 years time. I suggest that Dublin Rathdown be allocated another seat.

I suggest that the existing borders between Dublin Rathdown and Dún Laoghaire be maintained to avoid the confusion for people of being moved back and forth between one constituency and another but rather to ‘maintain continuity in the arrangement of constituencies’.