Local TDs react to additional seat in Longford/Westmeath constituency

The Houses of the Oireachtas are set to decide on recommendations that could see an increase in the number of TDs returned to the Dáil.

Longford/Westmeath is set to become a five-seat constituency following recommendations by the Electoral Commission in its Constituency Review published last week.

The proposals suggest that an additional 19 electoral divisions be moved into the Longford/Westmeath constituency from the Meath West constituency.

“It's determined by their terms of reference,” Longford solicitor and former political strategist Frank Gearty said of the changes. Frank is more familiar with the work of the Electoral Commission than most, having made submissions to the State body in the past.

The review suggests the creation of four new constituencies and an additional 14 Dáil seats across Ireland.

The last boundary review took place in 2020, but the 8% increase in the Irish population since then has led the Electoral Commission to make recommendations for a significant number of changes to political representation in the country.

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Overall, the Commission recommended that the next Dáil should see 174 TDs representing 43 Dáil Constituencies, up from the current 160 TDs in 39 Constituencies.

“It looks like they have done a brilliant job,” Frank told the Leader, “It's great that Longford/Westmeath has been retained as a single constituency. The big challenge now is for the people of Longford to elect two TDs, that ought to be possible with our population. It will be up to the people of Longford and the calibre of the candidates. ”

The Commission stated the Longford-Westmeath constituency's population justifies the allocation of an additional seat to make it a five seat constituency.

The constituency is now made up of the entire counties of Longford and Westmeath for the first time since 1980.

The constituency now includes an additional 19 electoral divisions in the north east of Westmeath. This area around Castlepollard brings in an additional 9,481 residents in the redrawn Longford/Westmeath.

Overall just seven of the 39 constituencies remain untouched under the Commission’s Constituency Review 2023 Report. In concluding her report Ms Justice Marie Baker, Chairperson, An Coimisiún Toghch said: “I commend these recommendations for consideration by the Houses of the Oireachtas.”

The final determination of the constituencies for both Dáil Éireann and the European Parliament will in due course be decided by the Houses of the Oireachtas in legislation.

Fianna Fáil TD for Longford Westmeath, Deputy Joe Flaherty, said the review suggestions were positive: “I broadly welcome the findings of the review. It's very hard please everybody, but important that the county boundaries were retained. Both counties have worked well together as a constituency and would have been remiss if they were pulled apart.

“We went before with Longford Roscommon and whilst it successfully returned two Longford TDs, I don’t think it worked as an entity,” he told the Leader.

Fine Gael's Peter Burke said the return of the the 19 electoral division to Westmeath was a very welcome part of the proposed changes: “It's great to see that Westmeath has been re-united and that the areas of Castlepollard, Delvin, Collinstown and Clonmellon, who voted in the Meath West Constituency since 2007, are now under to the fold of Westmeath again.

“I am delighted the Electoral Commission will now be in a position to right this wrong due to recent population changes,” he said.

Minister Burke believes the changes will be of benefit to him: “As it stands, I do a huge amount of work for people from this area already. I never diverted them to the Meath West Constituency. I see them in my clinic every week, and as such, I will continue to represent them and work on their behalf. The only difference is now, they will be able to vote for me at election time,” he concluded.

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Fianna Fáil's Robert Troy was also of the opinion that the proposals were well considered: “I welcome the proposals on two particular grounds. Firstly it reunites the county of Westmeath. I believe it is important that county boundaries are respected. This is the first time the people of North Westmeath will be able to vote for a candidate from Westmeath for the first time in 20 years.

“Secondly I believe it is important there is an additional seat. It recognises the huge increase, particularly in County Longford, of the population. It is important that the additional people living in Longford have additional representation.”

The Mullingar based TD said the commission's proposal to keep the two counties together is the correct call: “I welcome the fact Longford and Westmeath have been kept together. They have always been natural allies and a natural constituency. I don't believe that Longford Roscommon was a natural constituency. It was split between two provinces. I think we have a lot more in common in Longford Westmeath in terms of geography and in terms of our historical connectivity as a constituency down through the generations.”

Deputy Troy said the situation that presides at present, where three of the sitting TDs are from the Mullingar area, will not be affected by the change: “I don't believe that where the person sleeps at night is where they represent. I represent the people of Longford Westmeath,” he said.

Sinn Féin's Sorca Clarke agreed that there was little surprise in the commission's proposal: “It's not unexpected. That part of Westmeath returning into the constituency has been spoken of for a long time. There has been cross party support for the return of that part of Westmeath to the constituency.

“The move to five seats is also not unexpected. The census population growth shows that the numbers are there for a five seater constituency.”

The Teachta Dála believes that if the proposals are adopted it will make for an intriguing election: “Longford Westmeath is going to be an interesting constituency. At one point Athlone had three TDs living in close proximity to each other. Where the TD is based changes.

“The issues in the next general election will be less parochial, because people desperately need to see change taking place. They will look for the party that is capable of delivering change,” Deputy Clarke concluded.

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