Gavan Reilly: Good Week/Bad Week

Good week: Aspiring TDs

The preliminary Census 2022 results were good news for anyone eyeing up a seat in the Dáil.

The population of Meath has grown so much in the last six years that we’re likely to get not one, but two, extra seats in Dáil Éireann.

The likely outcome is that both current constituencies will become four-seaters; potentially with bits of Westmeath being returned to their rightful(!) owners.

In plain talk that means Meath will end up with eight TDs, two more than the current six. Those who were pipped in 2020 will be planning.

Bad week: None of our own

A few members of the Oireachtas have been needing to put their hands in their pockets for the last few weeks: it’s the time of year when TDs and Senators have to return some travel allowances if they haven’t been keeping up appearances in Leinster House.

Allowances are paid upfront but if a politician doesn’t make it into Leinster House on 120 weekdays over a year, they must return 1% for every day they fall short. This has left some with big bills, but none from Meath: our TDs and Senators all recorded perfect attendance.