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Thu 07 Jul 2006Population growth brings challengesPreliminary census figures paint a picture of Irish society undergoing a dramatic transformation. Inward migration, coupled with a natural increase, has pushed the population beyond the four million mark for the first time in more than a century, bringing with it all the benefits and problems that such rapid growth entails. The cost of extraordinary economic expansion, involving long-term planning and social implications, will now have to be comprehensively addressed.One of the immediate tasks facing the Government is probably the simplest, and involves its attitude to constituency boundaries and the holding of a general election. Population changes have distorted the voter/TD ratios established by the Constituency Commission when it established existing boundaries. Dublin West actually breaches the requirements of the Constitution. And this is likely to be confirmed when final figures are published next April. Election candidates were chosen on the basis of current boundaries and they have been campaigning hard for almost two years. A large-scale revision is, therefore, unlikely. The Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche has ruled out changes based on preliminary figures. So, rather than risk a High Court challenge, the Government may opt for a March election or, alternatively, authorise a late review involving Dublin West.