20.12.11
To whom it may concern,
I wish to make a submission to the Constituency Commission in respect of the constituency of Dublin South-East.
The Dublin area south of the River Liffey that falls under Dublin City Council jurisdiction is effectively divided between the Dáil constituencies of Dublin South-Central and Dublin South-East, 5-seat and 4-seat constituencies respectively. For historical, planning and practical reasons, I believe it to be sensible to consider both constituencies together for the purposes of any possible redrawing of constituency boundaries or changes in seat allocation.
As it stands, there are 25,355 people per TD in Dublin South Central and 25,791 people per TD in Dublin South-East. This means that there is a population of 126,775 in Dublin South-Central and 103,164 in Dublin South-East. In line with constitutional provisions, it is clear that both constituencies when taken together warrant 8 seats in total.
The Commission’s review presents an opportunity to better arrange these two constituencies and bring about greater balance. If a seat were lost from Dublin South Central, it would bring the total number of seats in each constituency to parity. This would also require the ‘transfer’ of territory from Dublin South Central to Dublin South East to balance the number of people represented by each seat. If Terenure A, Terenure B, Terenure C, Terenure D and Kimmage C (approx. 12,500 people in total) were transferred from Dublin South Central to Dublin South East, there would be an almost equal population in both constituencies of roughly 114,000.
Apart from this balancing of the two constituencies in terms of population and seats, there would also be a practical element to such realignment in that the Terenure area would no longer be divided between two electoral areas. For local residents and businesses alike, there can be tremendous confusion about which TD to contact or which official is responsible for the area.
If the above measure was implemented we would see the removal of an unnatural and problematic border through Terenure and the equal distribution of 4 seats apiece for both constituencies, across similar population sizes.
Yours Faithfully,
Eoghan Murphy TD
Posted on January 9, 2012 in Community, Fine Gael← Hogan Steers Council in the right Direction -- Intern Wanted! →
