Rathdown Election 2024: Who are the candidates and who could make gains? Everything you need to know before voting

Fine Gael TD Josepha Madigan announced her departure from politics earlier this year, which leaves just Green Party minister Catherine Martin and Fine Gael junior minister Neale Richmond seeking to retain their seats.

Shatter is running as an independent, without a party machine behind him, while Fianna Fáil councillor Shay Brennan hopes to become the first Fianna Fáil TD the constituency has had since 2011.

Currents TDs Josepha Madigan (FG), Catherine Martin (GP), Neale Richmond (FG)

Who could make gains? There are now four seats up for grabs in Rathdown, which was a three-seat constituency until the redrawing of the political map.

Just two of the incumbents are standing for re-election, with Green Party minister Catherine Martin and Fine Gael junior minister Neale Richmond seeking to hold onto their seats.

Despite a shaky handling of the saga at RTÉ in her time as minister, Ms Martin topped the poll in Rathdown in 2020 and will likely benefit from the room to breathe granted by an extra seat and the departure of Ms Madigan from politics.

Shay Brennan, who narrowly lost out in 2020, is relatively well-placed to pick up a seat for Fianna Fáil here, but he will need to overtake his fellow local councillor Michael Fleming in the running, an independent who is in a prime position for that fourth seat.

There is a strong Fine Gael vote in Rathdown, though it remains to be seen whether it is strong enough to return both Mr Richmond, who is considered safe in this election, and his running mate councillor Maeve O'Connell.

The return of Mr Shatter, who has a long political record, name recognition and a platform of inheritance tax that could serve him well to make a comeback in Rathdown, could split the Fine Gael vote.

Are there any boundary changes that could be crucial? Rathdown has gained constituents in a minor boundary revision to include Stillorgan-Leopardstown, Foxrock-Torquay, Foxrock-Carrickmines and Glencullen, who previously voted in Dún Laoghaire. The changes are unlikely to alter the voting habits of Rathdown, which has been a constituency separate from Dún Laoghaire since 2016.

The addition of a seat in this election could be key to another party gaining a foothold in the constituency.

What issues are under the spotlight? The growing Dublin suburb of Rathdown faces similar issues in housing as the rest of the country – and county. House prices in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown rose by around 10pc in the twelve months since August 2023, a similar trajectory to the rest of Dublin which saw an 11.6pc increase.

A judicial review taken by one local resident stalled progress on the development of 852 new affordable homes at the site of the former Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum. It is hoped that new planning laws will help reduce similar delays in future, though the area remains in need of increased housing supply.

The cost of rent will also come under focus, in particular for younger voters, along with concerns around improved public transport links. Inheritance tax will also come under the spotlight in Rathdown, where former justice minister Alan Shatter, who is heading a campaign on abolishing the tax, is contesting the election.

Parents and advocates have also been fighting a campaign for increased provision of special education in south Dublin.

Shay Brennan (FF)

Liam Coughlan (AON)

Michael Fleming (IND)

Sinéad Gibney (SD)

Catherine Martin (GP)*

Lettie McCarthy (LAB)

Maeve O'Connell (FG)

Neale Richmond (FG)*

Shaun Tracey (SF)

Alan Shatter (IND)

Further candidates may be added to the ballot