Swords boundary campaign pays off

A CAMPAIGN to ensure that Swords would not be split into two separate constituencies for the next general election have proved successful.

The Constituency Commission presented its 2017 report on Dáil and European Parliament constituencies last week.

It recommended that Dublin Fingal, which includes Swords, remains a five-seat constituency with no boundary changes. 

However, Dublin Central, which is currently a three-seat constituency, will gain an extra seat. This decision will have implications for TDs in Dublin Bay North and Dublin North West. 

Although both of these constituencies will remain as five-seat and three-seat respectively, the commission has recommended that the boundaries be adjusted.

As a result some of the electorate in both constituencies will be voting in the enhanced Dublin Central.

In Dublin North West voters in Drumcondra and Glasnevin could be voting in Dublin Central in the next general election.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin North West, Noel Rock, is one of those who will be affected by the changes.  

“While obviously it is a setback, the commission is independent and we have to respect its findings no matter how painful they may be,” he told Northside People.

“I’m disappointed to have lost more than 20 per cent of my voters at the stroke of a pen. It’s difficult and it will be a challenge but I am determined to meet it head on.

“I will continue to work to the best of my ability for my constituents which is what got me elected initially and will hopefully help me retain my seat in the next general election, whenever that may be.”

Meanwhile, there was relief in Swords that the town would not be affected by the recommendations. 

When a new Constituency Commission was established last July following the publication of the preliminary results of Census 2016, there were genuine fears that there could be some changes made to Dublin Fingal. 

One local councillor was so concerned he established a campaign calling on Swords residents to make submissions to the commission. In 2007 there was uproar when the town was split into the old Dublin North and Dublin West constituencies.

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF), who established the campaign, welcomed the report.

“Over recent weeks there had been all sorts of mad rumours that Swords would be moved into the constituency of Dublin West but thankfully this proved not to be the case,” he said.  

“I would like to think the campaign I orchestrated last December helped in this regard, which resulted in Dublin Fingal having the third highest number of submissions overall (45 submissions, or 10.8 per cent of the total number), which called for all of Swords to remain united in the constituency of Dublin Fingal. 

“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to make a submission and this is a good result for Dublin Fingal and democracy.”

Dublin Fingal TD Darragh O’Brien (FF) echoed Cllr Butler’s sentiments.  

“I made a strong written submission to the Boundary Commission outlining the importance of retaining Dublin Fingal as one electoral area, and that no areas should be excluded as was done in 2011,” he said. 

“We have previously experienced changes to how our constituency was drawn. The decision to divide Swords and to exclude Portmarnock, Balgriffin and parts of Baskin from our constituency both proved hugely damaging.

“As this constituency review got under way, there was understandably growing concern among locals that our area may have been subject to change once again.”

It is expected that the recommendations will be approved when they go before the Dáil.