Why 174?
Article 16 of the Constitution says there must be at least one TD for every 30,000 people and no more than one for every 20,000. With a population of about 5.15 million at the 2022 census, 174 seats works out at roughly one TD for every 29,600 people.
Each constituency must have three, four or five seats. An independent Constituency Commission reviews the boundaries and the number of seats after each census, and the Oireachtas then passes the new map into law. The Constitution requires a revision at least once every 12 years.How PR-STV elects TDs.
TDs, Senators and MEPs
| Office | Number | Elected by |
|---|---|---|
| TDs (Dáil Éireann) | 174 | Voters, by PR-STV in 43 constituencies |
| Senators (Seanad Éireann) | 60 | Vocational panels, university graduates and Taoiseach nominees |
Together the 174 TDs and 60 Senators are the members of the Oireachtas, apart from the President. The Dáil is the more powerful house because Governments are formed from and answer to it.TD vs Senator.
Who are the 174 TDs?
The 174 include TDs from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, Labour, Aontú, People Before Profit–Solidarity and a large group of independents, plus the Ceann Comhairle, who chairs the Dáil and is returned automatically at the next election. The numbers change when a TD resigns and a by-election fills the vacancy.Independent TDs.
DáilDex has a page for every sitting TD with their votes, speeches and questions. To find yours, start with your constituency.How to find your TD.
Has the Dáil always had 174 TDs?
No. The number is reviewed after each census, so it moves with the population. It was cut after the financial crash and has grown since as the population passed five million.
| TDs | Constituencies | |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 166 | 43 |
| 2016 | 158 | 40 |
| 2020 | 160 | 39 |
| 2024 | 174 | 43 |
How do I find my TDs?
Every address in Ireland is in one Dáil constituency, and every constituency has between three and five TDs. You can contact any of them.
Find your constituency
Search by county or town on the DáilDex constituencies page, or check the constituency on your polling information card.
See all of your TDs
Each constituency page lists its TDs with their party and a summary of recent activity.
Follow the ones you care about
Get a plain-English email with the official link when they vote, speak or ask a question.