Swords residents step up boundary pressure

A SIGNIFICANT proportion of the 600 or so submissions
to the nationwide Constituency Commission related to the contentious split of
the village of Swords.

The split, which was introduced in 2007, was very
confusing for many, not least the 13,000 Swords residents who suddenly found
themselves in the same constituency as Blanchardstown and Castleknock
residents.

However, residents in Swords have had their say and
the boundary line now looks likely to be redrawn in response to the number of
submissions received by the Constituency Commission.

A spokesperson for the commission told Northside
People that

“a large proportion of the submissions received related to Swords

?.

“We received submissions on constituencies throughout
the country but there’s no doubt that a significant number of the submissions
related to Swords,

? he stated.

“Many of the submissions are what we call petitions in
that they follow the same wording and the same format which indicates that
there was a campaign at play.

“The level of submissions in relation to Swords wasn’t
exactly a surprise given the amount of commentary and controversy generated
back in 2007 when the commission recommended that the boundary be changed to
the current layout.

“The controversy was then sparked when the legislation
went through the Seanad.

?

The Constituency Commission makes its recommendations
for boundaries based on submissions and the results of the most recent census.

The commission is expected to report back to the
chairman of the Dail with its recommendations in the summer.

“We take everything into account including the
equality of representation as in the provisions of the Constitution,

? the
spokesperson added.

Swords ward councillor Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) who
was directly affected by the redrawing of the boundary, was among those who
rallied for residents to lodge submissions to the commission.

Cllr Butler who found himself in the Dublin West
constituency following the redrawing of the boundary in 2007, is hoping he will
be back voting in Dublin North at the next general election.

“Swords voters feel totally disenfranchised within the
Dublin West constituency and have nothing in common or any real geographical
connection with Castleknock or Blanchardstown with mainly empty fields and
motorways between them,

? he said.

“This was the number one issue encountered by all
political parties when canvassing in the recent Dublin West by-election to fill
the seat following the passing of Brian Lenihan.

?