'Another TD' possible for Kildare — Heydon
According to Deputy Martin Heydon, FG representative for Kildare South, the national population increase in the preliminary census results means that the Constituency Commission has the potential to increase the number of Dail seats by one or two to 159 or 160. "If they chose to increase by two, there is a possibility of an increased seat in Kildare due to our growing population," he said.
The deputy has made a submission to the Commission which is reviewing constituency boundaries for the purposes of Dail elections. He is specifically seeking a return of the six electoral divisions of Kildare South which were moved to the Laois Constituency.
“Following the last Dail Boundary review in 2012, the voting districts of Monasterevin, Churchtown, Kildangan, Kilberry, Harristown and Ballybracken were moved to the Laois constituency for Dail voting purposes. This meant that 7,186 voters from these areas voted for Laois candidates in the last General Election."
He claims many of these voters say they have a 'huge sense of anger and frustration' at being moved to Laois to vote for candidates who may not be known to them. "Many now outside of the constituency still engage with me and my Kildare South colleagues on issues that affect them."
Deputy Heydon says the breaching of county boundaries is one of the biggest issues facing the Constituency Commission. "Under their terms of reference the Commission are advised to avoid the breaching of County boundaries as far as practicable. I continue to fight for a reunited Kildare South for future elections."
