Voters ‘alienated’ by Dáil boundary split

Thousands of voters find themselves “alienated” due to the inclusion of the Ballyglass Electoral District in the neighbouring Limerick East constituency, a West Limerick Deputy has claimed.

Thousands of voters find themselves “alienated” due to the inclusion of the Ballyglass Electoral District in the neighbouring Limerick East constituency, a West Limerick Deputy has claimed.
New Limerick County Fine Gael Deputy, Patrick O’Donovan, believes redrawing the constituency boundaries of Kerry, Clare and Limerick has caused utter confusion for people who find their local deputy is located in a different county.
This in turn has resulted in consternation for TDs who are trying to represent people who are in the same county but a different constituency.
In a wide-ranging submission to the new Constituency Commission, Deputy O’Donovan stressed the redrawing of constituency boundaries is of great importance to people in Clare, Kerry and Limerick.
“People located in these constituencies find themselves alienated due to the boundaries and it is important to the constituents and their representatives that this is addressed.
“It is incredibly important that they feel their needs are being addressed adequately and that they are being represented appropriately. The boundaries of the counties should once again be viewed as the paramount division of the constituencies, with everything else subordinate. The population has changed and this creates a whole host of other issues with the redrawing of the constituency borders,” he said.
Clare currently has a population of 111,177 based on the most recent preliminary Census figures and Deputy O’Donovan argues it should contain 4.03 deputies, dividing total population by the average nationwide constituent county per TD, which is 27,598. The Banner County is currently represented by four deputies Pat Breen (Fine Gael), Joe Carey (Fine Gael), Michael McNamara (Labour) and Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fáil).
If over 5,000 voters in South-East Clare are allowed to return to the Clare constituency, it would have a population of 116,885 and a population average per TD of 4.2, which would strengthen the case to keep the current number of deputies in the county.
The Electoral Amendment Bill published last year provides for the Constituency Commission to recommend constituencies with reference to a range of 152 to 160 TDs. The 152 figure is not constitutionality feasible having regard to this new census data. However, the terms of reference explicitly require the commission to also have regard to the constitutional parameters. So, effectively, the Commission would be looking at a range of 153 to 160 seats.
The guidelines state breaching county boundaries should be avoided, except in the cases of cities, while the physical features and the extent of density in each constituency has to be taken into account.
Using a scenario for 160 seats, Anna-Marie Moroney states in her submission that the population of Clare has increased by 5,935, Limerick City dropped by 3,011 while County Limerick enjoyed a hike of 10,262.
If Ballyglass is returned to Clare, she explains the variance for the county will be plus 2.1%, within the national guidelines of plus or minus 5%.
“As an individual who lives right within the Clare county border, I feel strongly about county identity and ensuring as a county we remain united. I feel this may not be taken on as it breaches the exception of city boundaries.
“However, there is a distinct physical feature to correspond with the county border, the River Shannon. Even though you may live within a city, you are within a great county border,” she explains.
According to figures provided by the Clare Circuit Court office, there were 4,303 people on the register in South-East Clare who voted for Dáil hopefuls in Limerick East in the 2011 General Election. Four of the boxes were located in Parteen National School and the other four were in the Scouts Hall, Shannon Banks.
Interestingly, Parteen was split in two when it came to voting in the election. Residents living in Derryfadda, Garraun, Gillogue, Roo West, Ballycar North and South and Clooncarhy could vote in the Clare constituency. However, householders from Ballkeelaun, Bishop Murphy Park, Ballykeelaun Estate, Kilquane, Parteen village, Quinpool, Shannakyle had to vote in Limerick East.
They were joined by voters living in Ardnacrusha, part of Cloontra, Ballyglass and Cloghera, as well as Westbury and Shannon Banks.