The number of Dáil constituencies will increase from 42 to 43 and changes will be made to a number of existing electoral areas under proposals accepted by the Government.
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Roche, this evening announced that the Government has accepted the recommendations of a commission on Dail constituencies.
A Bill based on the recommendations will now give effect to the January 2004 report.
There will be no change in the existing number of TDs, which remains at 166. The number of Dail seats may be adjusted upwards or downwards according to fluctuations in population under the Constitution.
There will be a net increase of one in the number of constituencies from 42 to 43. Kildare North and Dublin Mid-West, both three-seaters, will gain a seat each. Co Meath will be split into two three-seaters, where there are currently five seats in one constituency.
Dublin North Central, currently with four seats, and Cork North Central, a five-seater, will each lose a seat.
There will also be some boundary adjustments in a number of constituencies, including 10 of the 12 Dublin constituencies. The only two unchanged electoral areas in the capital will be Dublin South East and Dun Laoghaire.
Four of the five Cork constituencies will be adjusted, as will Kerry South and Kerry North, Donegal North East and Donegal South West, Clare, Limerick East and Limerick West, Kildare South and Kildare North.
The changes in Kildare and Meath will not, however, have any implications for two by-elections due to be held to fill the Dáil seats vacated by Mr Charlie McCreevy, newly appointed EU Commissioner, and Mr John Bruton, who has been appointed the EU's ambassador to Washington.
They will take not take effect until after the dissolution of the current Dáil.