Despite expectations in some quarters, the Constituency Commission has adopted a minimalist approach to change in Dublin, leaving most constituencies unchanged.
Following a review, it said it could see "no compelling case" to increase the 47 seats currently assigned to Dublin, which now has a population of 1,187,000, up 5.1 per cent on 2002.
Predictably, though, Dublin West, which was significantly under-represented, is to get an extra seat, which will be seen as boosting former socialist party TD, Joe Higgins' chances.
Dublin North, however, does not get an extra seat. Instead, its population is to be cut to bring it closer, but not entirely into line with, population requirements. The commission said it had considered giving Dublin North an extra seat, and compensate for this by taking a seat off the other north city constituencies combined.
Nearly 13,000 voters in the Swords/Forrest/Airport areas are to go into Dublin West, while 9,000 living in Portmarnock and Balgriffin will shift into Dublin North East.
The decision to leave North Central, North East and North West relatively unaffected was greeted with surprise and a degree of relief. The decision to return the Edenmore estate, and its 3,000 voters, into North Central was welcomed by Independent TD Finian McGrath.