Irish elections with only 5 or 6 member constituencies

[rob in cal]

I've often wondered what would happen in terms of overall proportionality of results if Ireland merged all of those 3 seat constituencies into some five or even six seaters. What would impact on Greens, Sinn Fein, Labor and smaller parties be. Obviously they'd win more seats, question is how many, and would  even smaller parties field one candidate in each of the new districts?  I realize that some counties would have to merge with other counties, but in many areas, like Dublin this could easily be done (does Dublin really need so many districts?).
Has this even been brought up for discussion in Ireland? It would represent a more modest way to further proportionalize the results without a whole new non-STV system.  Of course I'm guessing that maybe FF and FG don't want to do this in the first place. Maybe when Greens or PD's have joined cabinets they should have insisted on at least some movement in this direction?

[minionofmidas]

3 is set by law as the minimum size. There sometimes were larger constituencies in the early days of the Republic.

And yes, it would presumably lead to more proportional results. But also to more FF and FG candidates.

Someone produce a minimum-change plan with 4 to 7 seaters, please, so Jas can then analyze the changes. (Some are obvious: a single Donegal constituency, and one safe SF seat forever with an outside chance at a second.)

[Јas]

Unfortunately the Constituency Commission seem to increasingly prefer 3-seaters these days. I might take a look at doing a rough effort at a map elimiating them in the next week or two - things are a bit hectic at the minute!

[Kevinstat]

Unfortunately the Constituency Commission seem to increasingly prefer 3-seaters these days.

The most recent Constituency Commission (whose plan hasn't been used in an election yet) reduced the number of both 3-seaters and 5-seaters by 1, increasing the number of 4-seaters by 2.  But there will still be 5 more 3-seaters than there were before the 2002 election, and the number of constituencies will still be at the largest ever.

A smaller percentage of TDs represent 3-seaters (and 3- or 4-seaters) now than in the pre-Constituency Commission era going back to the 1937 elections before which there were constituencies electing more than 5 members, although things are only marginally better now than they were for most of the 60s under the 1961 plan.

[Јas]

Unfortunately the Constituency Commission seem to increasingly prefer 3-seaters these days.

The most recent Constituency Commission (whose plan hasn't been used in an election yet) reduced the number of both 3-seaters and 5-seaters by 1, increasing the number of 4-seaters by 2.  But there will still be 5 more 3-seaters than there were before the 2002 election, and the number of constituencies will still be at the largest ever.

You're quite right of course that the recent revision resulted in a net change of 1 fewer 3-seater constituencies. The major shift though to 3-seaters that occured in 1998 has effectively been upheld since that time though through subsequent revisions.

A smaller percentage of TDs represent 3-seaters (and 3- or 4-seaters) now than in the pre-Constituency Commission era going back to the 1937 elections before which there were constituencies electing more than 5 members, although things are only marginally better now than they were for most of the 60s under the 1961 plan.

Yeah, the pre-CC boundary structures aren't to be lauded either.
Doesn't mean I can't keep moaning about the current Commission though!

[afleitch]

Sticking this district electoral divisions map I found on here (I found this map when trying to draft 'Holyrood' sized constituencies) It's big but worth it...and it's editable.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ireland_DEDs.png

EDIT: and this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Ireland_electoral_areas.png