An additional Dáil Deputy will represent the constituency of Longford/Westmeath, a proposed recommendation by the Electoral Commission has revealed.
The recently published Constituency review notes that Longford/Westmeath will include 19 electoral divisions in the north east of Westmeath close to Castlepollard, with a population of some 9,481 to be returned to the two county constituency from Meath West.
Longford-Westmeath is currently a four seat constituency with a population of 133,488 - an increase of 12,526 (10.4% ) from the 2016 Census.
Local Minister of State welcomes Constituency Review
Local Fine Gael Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, has welcomed the report of the recently published Electoral Commission.
“I wholeheartedly welcome this report having made a submission earlier this year, it is great to see that Westmeath has been re-united and that the areas of Castlepollard, Delvin, Collinstown and Clonmellon, who voted in the Meath West Constituency since 2007, are now under to the fold of Westmeath again.
“I am delighted the Electoral Commission will now be in a position to right this wrong due to recent population changes.
“I feel that the arbitrary separation of Westmeath has been a disaster, with many people unaware which constituency they live in. Many of the people that live in Delvin, Castlepollard, Clonmellon, Raharney and Collinstown look naturally to Mullingar as their county town and avail of services and shops here. We all unite behind the Westmeath flag for GAA and other sports and there is a great sense of community within our county. They elect Councillors to Westmeath County Council and children and young people attend schools and clubs in Westmeath.
“I campaigned locally in May to encourage residents in this area of Westmeath to make a submission to the Commission and, being the only Oireachtas member to formally make a factual submission, I am really pleased that people power has had an impact and the county boundary has been restored.
“As it stands, I do a huge amount of work for people from this area already. I never diverted them to the Meath West Constituency, I see them in my clinic every week, and as such, I will continue to represent them and work on their behalf. The only difference is now, they will be able to vote for me at election time,” Minister Burke stated.
