An Independent TD says the current Sligo Leitrim constituency is exasperating the alienation of rural Ireland.
The present constituency incorporates parts of north Roscommon and south Donegal, as well as the two main counties.
In a submission to the electoral commission this week, Deputy Marc Mc Sharry says the current arrangements are totally contrary to the literal meaning and spirit of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 , in particular section 56 where it states that 'the breaching of County Boundaries shall be avoided as par as practicable.
He says this situation must be rectified in the current review.
The Independent TD says another part of section 56 was also ignored in relation geographic considerations, and that the existence of mountains, rivers, difficult terrain and the blatant absence of adequate physical connectivity infrastructure in terms of road, rail and public transport.
Deputy MacSharry says he believes that taking into account the latest census figures that Donegal can be split into two 3 seat constituencies.
He says Sligo/Leitrim should be left as a 4 seater constituency, and that Roscommon/Longford could be re-joined to make a 4 seater also.
The Independent TD says if the approach taken in 2017 continues it will inevitably lead within a few decades to a totally disproportionate level of representation in larger urban centres.
