57. (1) (a) Where the Commission has conducted constituency reviews under section 56(1)(a) it shall prepare reports containing the recommendations of the Commission in relation to:

(i) the constituencies for the election of members to Dáil Éireann;

(ii) the constituencies for the election of members of the European Parliament.

(b) Where the Commission has conducted constituency reviews under section 56(1)(b) it shall prepare a report containing the recommendations of the Commission in relation to the constituencies for the election of members of the European Parliament.

(c) A report under paragraphs (a) or (b) may include such recommendations as the Commission considers appropriate in relation to the alteration of constituencies referred to in those paragraphs.

(2) When preparing a report under subsection (1)(a)(i), the Commission shall, in observing the relevant provisions of the Constitution in relation to Dáil constituencies, have regard to the following:

(a) the total number of members of Dáil Éireann, subject to Article 16.2.2 of the Constitution, shall be not less than 171 and not more than 181;

(b) each constituency shall return 3, 4 or 5 members;

(c) the breaching of county boundaries shall be avoided as far as practicable;

(d) each constituency shall be composed of contiguous areas;

(e) there shall be regard to geographic considerations including significant physical features and the extent of and the density of population in each constituency;

(f) subject to this section, the Commission shall endeavour to maintain continuity in relation to the arrangement of constituencies.

(3) When preparing a report under subsection (1)(a)(ii) or (1)(b), the Commission shall have regard to the following:

(a) the total number of members of the European Parliament to be elected in the State, which shall be such number as may be specified for the time being pursuant to the treaties governing the European Union;

(b) the need for reasonable equality of representation as between constituencies;

(c) the matters specified in paragraphs (b) to (f) of subsection (2).

(4) The reference in subsection (2)(c) to county boundaries shall be deemed not to include a reference to the boundary of a city or any boundary between any 2 of the counties of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin.

(5) A report of the Commission under this section may indicate that, in the opinion of the Commission having regard to subsection (2) or (3), no alteration is required to be made in the constituencies to which the report relates.