Laois (Dáil constituency) explained

Laois
Type:Dáil
Map4:Laois (Dáil constituency) 2025.svg
Map Entity:Ireland
Map Size:200px
Members Label:TDs
Seats:3
Local Council Label:Local government area
Local Council:County Laois
Previous:Laois–Offaly
Future:proposed
Laois
Type:Dáil
Year:2016
Abolished:2020
Map Size:200px
Seats:3
Local Council Label:Local government area
Previous:Laois–Offaly

Laois was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas, from 2016 to 2020, and (per the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023) to again be used for future elections. The constituency will again elect 3 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs). The method of election was proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

History and boundaries

The Constituency Commission proposed in its 2012 report that at the 2016 general election a new constituency called Laois be created.[1] The report proposed changes to the constituencies of Ireland to reduce the total number of TDs from 166 to 158.[2]

It was established by the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013.[3] The constituency incorporated all of County Laois from the previous Laois–Offaly constituency, and six electoral divisions from Kildare South.

The 2013 Act defined the constituency as:[3]

It was abolished at the 2020 general election, along with the Offaly constituency. They were replaced by a re-created Laois–Offaly constituency, with the transfer of four electoral divisions in County Offaly to Kildare South.[4]

In 2023, the Electoral Commission recommended the establishment of a three-seat constituency of Laois comprising the entire county of Laois.[5]

For the next general election, the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 defines the constituency as:[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Constituency Commission Report 2012 – Waterford – Tipperary – Laois – Offaly – Kildare area. Constituency Commission. 21 June 2012. 7 April 2013.
  2. Web site: Constituency Commission Report 2012 – Introduction and summary of recommendation. Constituency Commission. 21 June 2012. 7 April 2013.
  3. Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013. y. 2013. 7. 7 April 2013.
  4. Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017. y. 2017. 39. 12 April 2018.
  5. Web site: Laois to return to a three-seater constituency as Dáil set to increase to 174 TDs. Steven. Miller. 30 August 2023. Laois Today.
  6. 2023. 40. y. Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023. 19 December 2023. 16 February 2024.