Referendum needed for a cap on number of TDs - Grealish

Independent Deputy Noel Grealish has asked the Government to commit to putting a proposal for a cap on the number of TDs in the Dáil to the people in a referendum.

He said estimates of the growth of the population to seven million people by 2057 would eventually lead to 240 members in the Dáil, which would require a new parliament to be built.

He asked Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe to hand the matter to the Electoral Commission for examination.

Responding, Mr Donohoe said the Electoral Commission is looking into the matter.

Population growth is a positive thing, he said, and his view is that representation by the Dáil will still be required.

The minister said he would be reluctant to put a cap on that, but he would be interested to see what An Coimisiún Toghcháin would recommend.

He said the level of representation at the moment does broadly work.

Last year, the Electoral Commission recommended that the number of TDs in the Dáil be increased from 160 to 174 to reflect the 8% growth in the population since 2016.

The commission also recommended a number of constituency boundary changes and increased the number of constituencies from 39 to 43.