Munster and Leinster are to lose one seat each in the European Parliament under changes unveiled by the Constituency Commission.
In its report, in advance of the European Parliament elections in June 2004, the Commissions also recommends moving Co Clare from the Munster constituency to Connacht-Ulster.
The move will reduce Ireland's seats from 13 to 15 in the European Parliament.
The repot also says Republic's constituencies should be named Dublin, East, North-West and South.
The Constituency Commission's members are Mr Justice Vivian Lavan; Mr Kieran Coughlan, clerk of the Dáil; Ms Deirdre Lane, clerk of the Seanad; Mr Niall Callan, secretary general of the Department of the Environment; and Ms Emily O'Reilly, Ombudsman.
The selection of candidates for next June's polling is to begin shortly, with indications that former taoiseach Mr John Bruton is likely to contest the election ineither the Dublin or East constituencies.
Today's move was welcomed by Fine Gael's Ms Avril Doyle. "We have all largely accepted cutbacks with one or two exceptions," she said.