South Mayo celebrates victory as county boundary is restored
This morning's news from the Electoral Commission was of great significance for residents of south Mayo and Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has expressed his satisfaction over the reinstatement of six crucial South Mayo areas to the Mayo constituency in the upcoming General Election.
This decision rectifies a deviation made in 2013, which temporarily shifted almost 6,000 Mayo residents to the Galway West constituency.
Deputy Dillon, in his submission to the Electoral Commission, stressed the importance of upholding the county boundary and safeguarding South Mayo's regional identity. He stated, "I am extremely pleased to see the return of Cong, Cross, The Neale, Kilmaine, Glencorrib, and Shrule, representing a population of 5,962, to Mayo.
The inclusion of the region in the Galway West constituency since 2013 inadvertently undermined South Mayo's heritage and rich contributions to our great county of Mayo."
Furthermore, the Commission has recommended an increase in the number of TDs in Mayo from four to five. This change is a response to a six percent population increase of 7,069 in Mayo since 2016.
Deputy Dillon expressed his delight at this recommendation, which reverts to the arrangement between 1995 and 2013. This increase in representation ensures that the rights of the people of South Mayo are respected and their voices are properly heard.
DEPUTY MICHAEL RING STATEMENT
In a press statement, Deputy Michael Ring said: “I welcome the announcement that the Mayo Constituency will now be a five seat constituency and also the most important fact that the south Mayo area, which had been moved to the Galway West constituency for the last number of elections has been returned to the Mayo Constituency.
"I am delighted to see Mayo back as one constituency.
“When south Mayo was in the Galway West constituency, the people in The Neale, Cong, Houndswood, Shrule, Dalgan and Kilmaine felt very disenfranchised.
"It should never have happened in the first place. I made a submission to the Electoral Commission when it was open to do, earlier this year where I had stated it did not make sense for that part of Mayo to be in Galway West.
"I am pleased to see that it has now officially come back into the Mayo constituency and that all of the county is now within the one constituency for electoral purposes,” concluded Deputy Ring.
COUNCILLOR MICHAEL BURKE'S STATEMENT
In a statement, Ballinrobe-based Fine Gael welcomed the commission's report which has returned the areas of South Mayo previously part of the Galway West constituency since 2016 back to Mayo.
He said: “All these areas are part of the old Rural Ballinrobe electoral division so I am delighted that they will be back in the Mayo constituency where they always should have been.
"The areas include Cong, Dalgan, Houndswood, Kilmaine, The Neale and Shrule which are just a few minutes out the road from Ballinrobe but were being represented by Dáil deputies elected in Galway.
When asked on local radio would he be a candidate for the Dáil in the next election, Councillor Burke said he’d never rule anything in or out but added that he has a local election next year and that’s the only election on his mind.
"“I was elected as a local representative for the people of Ballinrobe and South Mayo and being a local representative is what I’m focused on.
"I can say that I have not given any thought at all to a role in national politics as I’ve always felt Mayo has been represented very well on the national stage with the TDs we have from my party.
"I also believe that if somebody wants to run for the Dáil I think they should go and run for the Dáil and not be playing a game running for the county council just to get their name out in front of the public, I don’t think anybody would make a very good county councillor if they spend half their time day-dreaming of being a TD.”