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171 to 181 seats (exact number TBC) in Dáil Éireann 86–91 (TBC) seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The next Irish general election to Dáil Éireann, the lower house of Ireland's parliament, the Oireachtas, will be held by March 2025, to elect between 171 and 181 TDs across Dáil constituencies of between 3 and 5 seats.
The 33rd Dáil must be dissolved by the president at the request of the Taoiseach no later than 19 February 2025. The current Taoiseach is Leo Varadkar, leader of Fine Gael, who is leading a coalition government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party. He took office as Taoiseach in December 2022, following a rotation agreement with Micheál Martin, leader of Fianna Fáil, who had served as Taoiseach from June 2020.
After the 2020 general election, the Dáil met on 20 February, but no candidate was nominated by the Dáil to form a government. Varadkar resigned as Taoiseach, but continued to carry out duties pending the appointment of his successor.[1] Negotiations concluded on 27 June 2020 with an agreement for a three-party coalition, with both Martin and Varadkar serving as Taoiseach during the 33rd Dáil.
The size of the Dáil will increase from 160 TDs at the next election. The Electoral Commission is carrying out a review of constituencies which will be completed by the end of August 2023.[2] This will be the first review of constituencies carried out by the Commission established under the Electoral Reform Act 2022, where previously they had been carried out by a Constituency Commission.
The preliminary results of the 2022 census showed a population of over 5.1 million, which would require a minimum Dáil size of 171 TDs.[3] The Commission is required by law to recommend a size of the Dáil of between 171 and 181 TDs.[4] This range reflects the growth in the population of the state, and the requirement of Article 16.6.2° of the Constitution of Ireland that there be one TD elected for no less than every 20,000 of the population and no more than every 30,000.[5] This would be the largest number in the history of the State, surpassing the previous number of 166 TDs from 1981 to 2016. The number of constituencies may also change, depending on the recommendations of the constituency review, which is due to be published in July 2023.[6] Each constituency will return between three and five TDs, elected on the system of single transferable vote, in which voters rank candidates on their ballot papers.
Main article: Single transferable vote |
When the ballot papers are counted, a quota is determined by dividing the number of valid votes by the number of seats, plus one. Any candidate receiving a number of votes exceeding the quota is elected. If fewer candidates reach the quota than the number of seats to be filled, the last-placed candidate is removed from the count and the second or subsequent preferences on those ballot papers are redistributed until a candidate is elected. If such a candidate now has more votes than the quota, their surplus is given to other candidates in order of ranking on the ballot papers. This is repeated until sufficient candidates have passed the quota to fill the available seats,[7] or where a seat remains to be filled in a constituency and no candidate is capable of achieving a quota as there is nobody left to eliminate for a distribution then the highest place candidate without a quota is deemed elected at that point.
The outgoing Ceann Comhairle (currently Seán Ó Fearghaíl) will be returned automatically unless he announces to the Dáil that he wishes to retire as a TD.[8]
The current Dáil must be dissolved no later than Wednesday 19 February 2025. This date is calculated from the provisions of Electoral Act 1992, Section 33, which states that the same Dáil shall not continue for a longer period than five years from the date of its first meeting.[9] The writ for the election must be moved on the dissolution of the Dáil.[10] The election must take place on a day 18 to 25 days (disregarding any excluded day) after the writs have been moved.[11][12]
The following members of the 33rd Dáil are not seeking re-election:
Constituency | Departing TD | Party | First elected | Date confirmed | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Donegal | Joe McHugh | Fine Gael | 2007 | 4 May 2022[13][14] | |
Kerry | Brendan Griffin | Fine Gael | 2011 | 31 January 2023[15] | |
Roscommon–Galway | Denis Naughten | Independent | 1997 | 13 February 2023[16] | |
Carlow–Kilkenny | John Paul Phelan | Fine Gael | 2011 | 18 April 2023[17] | |
Cork North-West | Michael Creed | Fine Gael | 2007 | 24 April 2023[18] | |
Cork East | David Stanton | Fine Gael | 1997 | 23 May 2023[19] |
Various organisations conduct regular opinion polls to gauge voting intentions. Results of such polls are displayed in this list.
The date range for these opinion polls is from the previous Irish general election, held on 8 February 2020, to the next election, which can be held no later than March 2025.
Last date of polling |
Polling firm / Commissioner | Sample size |
SF | FF | FG | GP | Lab | SD | PBP–S | Aon | O/I[nb 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23 June 2023 | Red C/Business Post[p 1] | ? | 29 | 16 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
13 June 2023 | Ipsos MRBI/Irish Times[p 2] | 1,200 | 31 | 21 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
2 June 2023 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 3] | 1,136 | 32 | 19 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 13 |
24 May 2023 | Red C/Business Post[p 4] | 1,011 | 34 | 15 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
9 May 2023 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 5] | 906 | 35 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
6 May 2023 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 6] | 1,175 | 31 | 19 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 12 |
26 April 2023 | Red C/Business Post[p 7] | 1,016 | 31 | 16 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
4 April 2023 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 8] | 909 | 37 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
1 April 2023 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 9] | 1,102 | 31 | 16 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
22 March 2023 | Red C/Business Post[p 10] | 1,005 | 31 | 15 | 22 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
14 March 2023 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 11][p 12] | 943 | 32 | 20 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | – [nb 2] | 9 |
3 March 2023 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 13] | 1,162 | 29 | 19 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
22 February 2023 | Red C/Business Post[p 14] | 998 | 31 | 17 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
21 February 2023 | Ipsos MRBI/Irish Times[p 15] | 1,200 | 35 | 18 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 2 | – [nb 2] | – [nb 2] | 16 |
14 February 2023 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 16] | 921 | 31 | 24 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | – [nb 2] | 9 |
3 February 2023 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 17] | 1,212 | 31 | 18 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
25 January 2023 | Red C/Business Post[p 18] | 1,004 | 33 | 15 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 12 |
17 January 2023 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 19] | 936 | 34 | 25 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
6 January 2023 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 20] | 1,104 | 32 | 16 | 25 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 |
6 December 2022 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 21] | 923 | 34 | 21 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | – [nb 2] | 12 |
2 December 2022 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 22] | 1,352 | 34 | 17 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
23 November 2022 | Red C/Business Post[p 23] | >1,000 | 31 | 15 | 24 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
8 November 2022 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 24] | 923 | 34 | 23 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
4 November 2022 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 25] | 1,002 | 34 | 17 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 10 |
25 October 2022 | Ipsos MRBI/Irish Times[p 26] | 1,200 | 35 | 21 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
15 October 2022 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 27] | 931 | 34 | 22 | 21 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
1 October 2022 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 28] | 1,254 | 37 | 17 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
6 September 2022 | Red C/Business Post[p 29] | 1,004 | 35 | 17 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 12 |
6 September 2022 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 30] | 905 | 35 | 24 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
2 September 2022 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 31] | ? | 36 | 16 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 11 |
6 August 2022 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 32] | ? | 36 | 17 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
12 July 2022 | Ipsos MRBI/Irish Times[p 33][p 34] | 1,200 | 36 | 20 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 14 |
1 July 2022 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 35] | 1,133 | 36 | 15 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
22 June 2022 | Red C/Business Post[p 36] | 1,004 | 36 | 14 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 12 |
7 June 2022 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 37] | ? | 37 | 22 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
4 June 2022 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 38] | 1,211 | 35 | 17 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
25 May 2022 | Red C/Business Post[p 39] | 1,000+ | 36 | 15 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
10 May 2022 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 40][p 41] | 908 | 36 | 24 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
7 May 2022 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 42] | 1,002 | 34 | 16 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
27 April 2022 | Red C/Business Post[p 43] | 1,014 | 34 | 16 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
1 April 2022 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 44] | 1,135 | 33 | 18 | 22 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
23 March 2022 | Red C/Business Post[p 45] | 1,001 | 33 | 16 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 12 |
8 March 2022 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 46] | 928 | 33 | 23 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
4 March 2022 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 47] | 1,011 | 31 | 20 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
23 February 2022 | Red C/Business Post[p 48] | 1,001 | 33 | 17 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
8 February 2022 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 49] | 922 | 34 | 25 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
5 February 2022 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 50] | 1,086 | 32 | 17 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
26 January 2022 | Red C/Business Post[p 51] | 1,001 | 33 | 15 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
18 January 2022 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 52] | ? | 34 | 24 | 22 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
8 January 2022 | Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent[p 53] | 1,369 | 33 | 19 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
12 December 2021 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 54] | ? | 31 | 17 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
8 December 2021 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 55] | 933 | 34 | 23 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
8 December 2021 | Ipsos MRBI/Irish Times[p 56][p 57] | 1,200 | 35 | 20 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
25 November 2021 | Red C/Business Post[p 58] | 1,001 | 33 | 15 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
14 November 2021 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 59] | ? | 32 | 17 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
9 November 2021 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 60] | 912 | 37 | 20 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
22 October 2021 | Red C/Business Post[p 61] | ? | 33 | 12 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
16 October 2021 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 62] | 1,200 | 31 | 16 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | – [nb 2] |
12 October 2021 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 63] | 943 | 31 | 23 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
5 October 2021 | Ipsos MRBI/Irish Times[p 64][p 65] | 1,200 | 32 | 20 | 22 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
18 September 2021 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 66] | 1,000 | 29 | 19 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | – [nb 2] |
9 September 2021 | Red C/Business Post[p 67] | 1,031 | 29 | 13 | 28 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
8 September 2021 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 68] | 922 | 33 | 21 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
21 August 2021 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 69] | 1,203 | 30 | 15 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
17 July 2021 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 70] | 1,001 | 30 | 14 | 25 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
13 July 2021 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 71] | 894 | 30 | 20 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
26 June 2021 | Red C/Business Post[p 72] | 1,020 | 29 | 13 | 30 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
19 June 2021 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 73] | 1,274 | 32 | 15 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
15 June 2021 | Ipsos MRBI/Irish Times[p 74] | 1,200 | 31 | 20 | 27 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
8 June 2021 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 75] | 909 | 34 | 20 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
27 May 2021 | Red C/Business Post[p 76][p 77] | 1,034 | 29 | 14 | 29 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
18 May 2021 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 78] | 914 | 30 | 22 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | – [nb 2] | 8 |
15 May 2021 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 79] | 1,237 | 30 | 15 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
22 April 2021 | Red C/Business Post[p 80] | 1,025 | 27 | 13 | 30 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
15 April 2021 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 81] | 1,087 | 27 | 16 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
25 March 2021 | Red C/Business Post[p 82] | 1,000 | 29 | 11 | 30 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
20 March 2021 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 83] | 1,026 | 31 | 14 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
25 February 2021 | Red C/Business Post[p 84][p 85] | 1,000 | 29 | 13 | 29 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
23 February 2021 | Ipsos MRBI/Irish Times[p 86] | 1,200 | 28 | 14 | 30 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
12 February 2021 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 87] | 1,068 | 28 | 15 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
28 January 2021 | Red C/Business Post[p 88][p 89] | 1,000 | 27 | 16 | 29 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
17 January 2021 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 90] | 1,247 | 29 | 15 | 28 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
15 December 2020 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 91] | 916 | 32 | 22 | 27 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
29 November 2020 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 92] | 1,044 | 28 | 17 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
25 November 2020 | Red C/Business Post[p 93] | 1,000 | 30 | 12 | 33 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
24 October 2020 | Red C/Business Post[p 94][p 95] | 1,000 | 27 | 11 | 37 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
17 October 2020 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 96] | 931 | 30 | 19 | 31 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
6 October 2020 | Ipsos MRBI/Irish Times[p 97] | 1,200 | 29 | 17 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | – [nb 2] | 8 |
26 September 2020 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 98] | 1,200 | 28 | 14 | 32 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
15 September 2020 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 99] | 900 | 32 | 19 | 30 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
9 September 2020 | Red C/Business Post[p 100] | 1,000 | 27 | 10 | 35 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
22 August 2020 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 101] | 1,000 | 30 | 11 | 35 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
28 July 2020 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 102] | 921 | 30 | 20 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
18 July 2020 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 103] | 1,000 | 26 | 12 | 38 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | – [nb 2] | 10 |
20 June 2020 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 104] | 1,000 | 27 | 13 | 34 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | – [nb 2] | 10 |
14 June 2020 | Ipsos MRBI/|Irish Times[p 105] | 1,200 | 25 | 13 | 37 | 12 | 2 | [nb 3] | [nb 3] | [nb 3] | 10[nb 3] |
27 May 2020 | Red C/Business Post[p 106][p 107] | 1,000 | 27 | 15 | 35 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
23 May 2020 | Ireland Thinks/Irish Mail on Sunday[p 108] | 1,012 | 27 | 16 | 36 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | – [nb 2] | 6 |
29 April 2020 | Red C/Business Post[p 109][p 110] | 1,019 | 27 | 14 | 35 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
25 March 2020 | Red C/Business Post[p 111][p 112] | 1,062 | 28 | 18 | 34 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
10 March 2020 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 113][p 114] | 912 | 35 | 19 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
25 February 2020 | Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times[p 115][p 116] | 917 | 35 | 20 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
16 February 2020 | Amárach Research/Extra.ie[p 117][p 118] | 1,040 | 35 | 17 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 3 | – [nb 2] | 10 |
8 February 2020 | General election | – | 24.5 | 22.2 | 20.9 | 7.1 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 13.9 |