The Government has approved the report of the Constituency Commission, which redraws the boundaries of Dáil constituencies.
The Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, will now prepare legislation to introduce the changes recomended by the Commission.
The main features of the Commission's recommendations are that there should be no change in the existing level of Dáil membership.
A net increase of one in the number of constituencies, from 42 to 43, is recommended, and an extra seat in each of the Kildare North and Dublin Mid-West constituencies, as well as reductions in the constituencies of Cork North-Central and Dublin North-Central, and across counties Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Longford combined.
A new constituency configuration in the North Connacht - North Leinster area is outlined, as are boundary changes in many constituencies.
The recommendations for Dublin retain the existing profile of 47 seats spread over twelve constituencies, but in a new configuration. The new arrangements involve major boundary adjustments affecting six constituencies and minor adjustments affecting four others.
The Commission was headed by Mr Justice Vivian Lavan.
The other members were Niall Callan, Secretary-General of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Kieran Coughlan, Clerk of the Dáil, Deirdre Lane, Clerk of the Seanad, and Emily O'Reilly, the Ombudsman.
The Commission's full report can be seen here
