Boundary submissions veer towards a united Donegal

Momentum is mounting to restore Donegal's six-seater single constituency status. 

That's the overwhelming message from the 22 submissions received by the Electoral Commission in relation to its task of shaping the future make-up of Dáil constituencies.

The big question was the reunification to come up time and time again was the southern part of the county with its natural hinterland, the rest of Donegal into one constituency. 

Outgoing Fine Gale TD Joe McHugh was the only Donegal Oireachtas member to make a submission although the Fianna Faíl Donegal Comhairle Daíl Ceantar officer board also made a contribution. Other Oireachtas members in this area to contribute were independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim, Marian Harkin, Fine Gael TD for the same area, Frank  Frank Feighan and former Fianna Fail now independent TD Marc McSharry.

This is the first review of constituencies carried out by the Electoral Commission established under the Electoral Reform Act 2022.

It is required to recommend a size of the Dáil of between 171 and 181 TDs. This range reflects the growth in the population of the state, and the requirement of Article 16.6.2° of the Constitution of Ireland that there be one TD elected for no less than every 20,000 of the population and no more than every 30,000.

Results

This week's results of the 2022 census showed a population of over 5.1 million, which would require a minimum Dáil size of 171 TDs. This would be the largest number in the history of the State, surpassing the previous number of 166 TDs from 1981 to 2016.

The number of constituencies may also change, depending on the recommendations of the constituency review.

It is expected that Donegal will be in line for an increase, especially if the nine electoral divisions of south Donegal from Ballintra to Bundoran are returned to the constituency. It is currently part of the Sligo-Leitrim area. 

Deputy McHugh told the Commission that the integrity of county boundaries should be given strong consideration in any boundary division.

“County Donegal has had a divide for the past two General Elections leading to much frustration on the part of many constituents in Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Ballintra.”

In its submission, the Fianna Fáil Donegal Comhairle Daíl Ceantar officer board said it too had a number of party members anxious and annoyed at being outside their county boundary.

“We believe that it is paramount that they return within their county boundary for election purposes. The social structure, security, knowledge and benefit of being in the original Donegal South West Electoral Area for people is of paramount importance to them. The people of Bundoran and Ballyshannon feel ignored, disillusioned and isolated in a challenging economic and political landscape.”

The same message came through from independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim Deputy Harkin.

“In my own personal experience and interactions with many people in South Donegal, the vast majority of people in this area are strongly of the opinion that this part of the constituency should be returned as part of a county Donegal constituency,” she said.

Deputy Feighan reported that in the general election of 2020, in this new constituency of Sligo-Leitrim-North Roscommon and South Donegal, there was huge resentment on the doorsteps in south Donegal (Ballyshannon, Bundoran, etc) at being “cut off”  from the rest of the Donegal county.

Census

“The recent Census seems to indicate that the population in County Donegal is now large enough to be allocated six Dail seats which would facilitate two three-seat constituencies in Donegal South West and Donegal North East as has been a tradition in the past.”

Deputy McShary went even further. He claimed the existing constituency incorporating counties Sligo and Leitrim, and parts of south Donegal and north Roscommon, only served to exasperate the alienation of rural Ireland and undermined the constitutional entitlement of equal representation of all citizens in a practical, workable and cohesive way in Dáil Éireann.

He added the current arrangements were totally contrary to the literal meaning and spirit of the terms of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 adding county boundaries must be respected and maintained at all costs.

The vast majority of the other contributors also voiced their opinion in favour of what the TDs were saying.

Less Natural

One claimed the current five seats in Donegal are inadequate and breach constitutional provisions due to population size while another said TDs in Donegal are more aware of border-related issues and that the community of south Donegal gravitates to Donegal Town, Killybegs and Letterkenny rather than in the opposite direction with the connection to Sligo being less natural.

 Another added that most Donegal people would be very much of the opinion that the constituency should remain as a single entity and that the only matter to be decided is the level of representation.

Other comments included:  “I live in south Donegal and feel I should have the option of voting in a Donegal constituency. I have no wish for a TD from, say Sligo, to represent me in the Dail. Sligo TDs will represent the people where most of their votes come from, ie Sligo and not Donegal. As a constituent, I do not know our TDs and I feel ostracised from the rest of the county.  The main focus of TDs’ work is Sligo/Leitrim, as this is where most constituents dwell.  It does not help that for local elections we are in a different constituency and part of Donegal. Therefore, I feel I am not properly being electorally represented.”

The Electoral Commission is now required to report not later than three months after the publication by the Central Statistics Office of the final result of the Census in respect of the total population of the State announced earlier this week.