Independent reviews of the boundaries for next year’s local elections have recommended fewer electoral areas and a sharp reduction in the number of three-seat wards.
The reviews, which were approved by Cabinet today, say there should be 140 local electoral areas across the country, a reduction of six.
It recommends that the number of three seat areas drop from 24 to three, and a corresponding increase in the number of four seaters from 34 to 50.
The publication of the review had been keenly anticipated by politicians across the country ahead of next year’s local elections.
The terms of reference did not include altering the number of councillors but focussed on redrawing the boundaries of areas within each local authority.
The review committees, which were established in January by the Minister for the Environment, were both chaired by Niall Callan, a former Secretary General of the Department.
One examined the boundaries in the greater Dublin area and the other cities, and the second looked at the rest of the country.
