Historic Dáil constituencies

In use at the 2020 general election. The total number of TDs was adjusted from 158 to 160.

In use at the 2016 general election. The total number of TDs was adjusted from 166 to 158.

The 2007 report of the Constituency Commission,[1] an independent body established by the Government of Ireland to review constituency boundaries, proposed several changes to Dáil constituencies. These changes were provided for by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009. In July 2011 the Irish government established a commission to review to the current Dáil and European constituencies.[2]

This table summarises the changes in representation. It does not address revisions to the boundaries of constituencies.

There were further boundary changes to 18 constituencies, namely: Cork East, Cork North-Central, Cork North-West, Donegal North-East, Donegal South-West, Dublin North, Dublin North-Central, Dublin North-East, Dublin South, Kerry South, Kildare North, Kildare South, Laois–Offaly, Meath East, Meath West, Roscommon–South Leitrim, Sligo–North Leitrim and Tipperary North.

Dáil Éireann constituencies for the 2007 general election.

In 2004 the report of the Constituency Commission,[3] proposed major changes to Dáil constituencies. Five new constituencies were created under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005:

• Longford–Westmeath (4)
• Meath East (3)
• Meath West (3)
• Roscommon–South Leitrim (3)
• Sligo–North Leitrim (3)

These replaced the four existing constituencies of Longford–Roscommon, Meath, Sligo–Leitrim and Westmeath. These new changes resulted in the creation of a 43rd constituency and the removal of the provincial boundary breach between Leinster and Connacht.

The number of seats was reduced in two constituencies:

• Cork North-Central (from 5 to 4)
• Dublin North-Central (from 4 to 3)

Two three-seater constituencies gained an extra seat:

• Dublin Mid-West (from 3 to 4)
• Kildare North (from 3 to 4)

There were further smaller boundary changes to eleven constituencies outside Dublin, these were: Clare, Cork North-West, Cork South-Central, Cork South-West, Donegal North-East, Donegal South-West, Kerry North, Kerry South, Kildare South, Limerick East and Limerick West.

Boundaries for ten of the twelve Dublin constituencies were also revised apart from Dublin South-East and Dún Laoghaire.

Constituencies drawn on the basis of a Constituency Commission established under the Electoral Act 1997. In use at the 2002 general election.

• Dublin North-East, Dublin North-West and Dublin West were reduced from 4 to 3 seats
• Dublin South-Central was increased from 4 to 5 seats.
• Dublin South-West was reduced from 5 to 4 seats
• Dublin Mid-West was a new 3-seater

In use at the 1997 general election.

• Mayo East (3) and Mayo West (3) were replaced by Mayo (5)
• Kildare (5) was replaced by Kildare North (3) and Kildare South (3)
• Galway East was increased from 3 to 4 seats
• Tipperary South was reduced from 4 to 3 seats

In use at the 1992 general election.

• Longford–Westmeath (4) and Roscommon (3) were replaced with Westmeath (3) and Longford–Roscommon (4)
• Dublin North was increased from 3 to 4 seats
• Dublin Central was reduced from 5 to 4 seats
• Dublin South-West was increased from 4 to 5 seats
• Dublin South-Central was reduced from 5 to 4 seats
• Dublin West was reduced from 5 to 4 seats
• Wicklow was increased from 4 to 5 seats

In use at the 1987 and 1989 general elections. Minor boundary changes only.

The first legislation drawn on the basis of recommendations by a commission. In use at the 1981, February 1982 and November 1982 general elections.

In use at the 1977 general election.

In use at the 1969 and 1973 general elections.

This act ended the distinction between borough and county seats. To preserve continuity in the tables above the seats based upon the cities of Cork and Dublin are treated as if they were borough constituencies and all the other seats are recorded as county ones.

In use at the 1961 and 1965 general elections.

Struck down by the High Court in O'Donovan v. Attorney General (1961) as repugnant to the Constitution.

In use at 1948, 1951, 1954 and 1957 general elections.

Removed the constitutional right of representation from the two university constituencies.

In use at the 1937, 1938, 1943 and 1944 general elections.

In use at the 1923, June 1927, Sept. 1927, 1932 and 1933 general elections.

In use at the 1921 and 1922 elections. In elections to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland, these constituencies continued in use until repealed by the House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929.

The 1921 Irish elections comprised separate elections in the six counties of Northern Ireland and the twenty-six counties of Southern Ireland. In Irish republican theory, this was a single election to fill the 180 seats (52 from Northern Ireland and 128 from Southern Ireland) in the Second Dáil. In practice, only the Sinn Féin MPs took their seats as TDs in Dublin. This Dáil first assembled on 16 August 1921, and last met (at least in the view of the subsequent Irish Free State) on 8 June 1922.

The Second Dáil was not formally dissolved, but following the precedent of 1921, it should perhaps be regarded (from the viewpoint of the Irish Free State) as dissolved upon the assembling of the Third Dáil. The Third Dáil was first summoned to meet on 1 July 1922. It was prorogued on five occasions, and eventually met on 9 September 1922.

The Oireachtas members database regards the Second Dáil as having existed from 24 May 1921 to 16 June 1922.

According to Irish republican legitimism, the Second Dáil continued in operation, and no subsequent Dáileanna were legitimate, as they only represented part of Ireland.

In use at the 1918 general election.

105 MPs for Ireland within the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. 101 were from geographical constituencies, with 99 single-member districts, and one two-member district. 4 MPs were elected from university constituencies.

The British general election of 1918 in Ireland was, in Irish republican theory, to fill the 105 seats in Dáil Éireann for the First Dáil. Only the Sinn Féin MPs took their seats as Teachtaí Dála (TDs) in Dublin. This Dáil first assembled on 21 January 1919 and last met on 10 May 1921. Under a resolution passed at its last meeting, the First Dáil was dissolved upon the assembly of the Second Dáil, which took place on 16 August 1921.

The Oireachtas members database regards the First Dáil as having existed from 21 January 1919 to 10 May 1921.