Wicklow–Wexford (Dáil constituency)
| Wicklow–Wexford | |
|---|---|
| Dáil constituency | |
_2025.svg) Location of Wicklow–Wexford within Ireland | |
| Major settlements | |
| Future constituency | |
| Seats | 3 |
| Local government area | |
| Created from | |
| EP constituency | South |
Wicklow–Wexford is a Dáil constituency to be represented in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament, from the next general election. Established through the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023, the constituency will elect 3 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).
History and boundaries
[edit]The 2023 report of the Electoral Commission recommended that at the next general election, a new three-seat constituency of Wicklow–Wexford be created, with a transfer of territory from the constituencies of Wexford and Wicklow.[1]
This was done to ensure compliance with the constitutional requirement for one TD per 20,000 to 30,000 of the population and with an overall increase from 160 to 174 TDs.[2] The Commission found that the constituencies of Wexford and Wicklow had a combined population sufficient to justify the allocation of 11 seats and therefore decided to create a new constituency called Wicklow–Wexford in order to meet the criteria set out under the scope of its review. The two pre-existing five-seat constituencies of Wicklow and Wexford transferred one seat each to the new constituency which then gained an additional seat to meet the three-seat minimum for a constituency.[3]
For the next general election, the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 defines the constituency as:[4]
"In the county of Wexford the electoral divisions of:
- Ballindaggan, Ballycarney, Ballymore, Castledockrell, Ferns, Kilbora, Kilcormick, Kilrush, Moyacomb, Newtownbarry, Rossard, St. Mary's, The Harrow, Tinnacross, Tombrack, in the former Rural District of Enniscorthy;
- Ardamine, Balloughter, Ballybeg, Ballycanew, Ballyellis, Ballygarrett, Ballylarkin, Ballynestragh, Cahore, Coolgreany, Courtown, Ford, Gorey Rural, Gorey Urban, Huntingtown, Kilcomb, Kilgorman, Killenagh, Killincooly, Kilnahue, Limerick, Monamolin, Monaseed, Rossminoge, Wells, Wingfield, in the former Rural District of Gorey;
and in the county of Wicklow, the electoral divisions of;
- Arklow Rural, Aughrim, Ballinaclash, Ballinacor, Ballinderry, Ballyarthur, Cronebane, Dunganstown East, Dunganstown South, Dunganstown West, Ennereilly, Kilbride, Ovoca, Rathdrum, in the former Rural District of Rathdrum;
- Aghowle, Ballingate, Ballinglen, Ballybeg, Carnew, Coolattin, Coolboy, Cronelea, Kilballyowen, Killinure, Kilpipe, Money, Rath, Shillelagh, Tinahely, in the former Rural District of Shillelagh;
- and
- Arklow No. 1 Urban, Arklow No. 2 Urban."
Next election
[edit]None of the ten TDs who had been elected in the 2020 Irish general election for the constituencies of Wexford and Wicklow are resident in the proposed constituency.[5][6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Constituency Review Report 2023" (PDF). Electoral Commission. pp. 102, 133.
- ^ Spain, Sinead (30 August 2023). "14 extra TDs and four more constituencies recommended". RTÉ News.
- ^ EC 2023.
- ^ Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023, Schedule (No. 40 of 2023, Schedule). Enacted on 19 December 2023. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 16 February 2024.
- ^ Looby, David (30 August 2023). "Shock among Wexford politicians at Boundary Commission county split with Wicklow". New Ross Standard – via Independent.ie.
- ^ Mac Raghnaill, Eoin (30 August 2023). "Arklow councillors hail 'game changing' Wicklow–Wexford electoral constituency". Wicklow People – via Independent.ie.