Wicklow is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs). The method of election is the single transferable vote form of proportional representation (PR-STV).
History and boundaries[]
The constituency was created for the 1923 general election and elected 3 deputies to Dáil Éireann until 1977, this was increased to 4 deputies in 1981. In part this was because, in 1977, parts of the county had been placed in the constituencies of Dublin County Mid and Dublin County West, while the 1981 constituency included the entire county. The number of seats was increased to 5 for the 1992 general election.
The constituency spans the entire area of County Wicklow, including the towns of Wicklow, Arklow, Greystones and Bray and includes a small part of eastern County Carlow containing the villages of Hacketstown and Rathvilly.
The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009 defines the constituency as:
- "The county of Wicklow;
- and, in the county of Carlow, the electoral divisions of:
- Clonmore, Hacketstown, Haroldstown, Kineagh, Rahill, Rathvilly, Ticknock, Williamstown, in the former Rural District of Baltinglass No. 2."