My submission to the Constituency Review May 2023

To whom this may concern,

I wish to make the following observations to the Constituency Boundary review with regard to the Dublin Central Constituency.

• The current situation is that the Dublin Central population of 123,165 as per Census 2022 currently exceeds the maximum threshold of 30,000 per TD, with growth of over 8% between census 2016 and census 2022.
• For the most part the existing boundaries preserve the integrity of the following areas and it is vital that this is maintained; Drumcondra, Ballybough, Cabra, East Wall, North Strand, Stoneybatter, Phibsborough and the Inner City.
• However the existing boundary truncates an area code, local electoral area and local authority area to the west of the constituency.  The Dublin 7 area and Cabra-Glasnevin local electoral ward is split between the Dublin West Dáil Constituency and Dublin Central. Furthermore, it means that the Dublin 7 area in Dublin West is the only area in that Dáil constituency within the Dublin City council area with the rest covered by Fingal County Council.  This is a very unsatisfactory situation for residents of the Navan road and I ask that it be resolved.
• Accordingly, I ask that the Ashtown A and Ashtown B DED be brought back into Dublin Central as was historically the case.

While Census 2022 small area population statistics have yet to be published, it would appear the Ashtown B population as per the 2016  census of 2,643 will not have changed significantly. However, very large population growth has been recorded within the Ashtown A area with the opening of a number of residential developments in Pelletstown. The population of Ashtown A in 2016 was 10,566. A conservative estimate would suggest an increase in population in that DED of at least 40%.

If Ashtown A and Ashtown B were to be added to the constituency and given the likely population changes in both DEDs described above, the overall population of Dublin Central would rise to approximately 140,000 persons and would therefore require the establishment of a five seat constituency.

I ask that you consider the above submission.

Yours faithfully,

Senator Marie Sherlock