Results from the upcoming census could see several more TDs sitting in the next Dáil.
That's according to political analyst Odran Flynn, who was speaking ahead of Census Day this weekend.
Households around the country will sit down to fill out their census form on Sunday night.
Odran told Newstalk Breakfast the results could mean an expanded Dáil chamber.
"It's important because basically it's one of the key tools to determine what the structure of the country - infrastructure and a lot of other - for the next decade is going to be.
"For example it'll determine our housing issue, renewable energy, education needs, health needs, age profiles - which will tell us how many schools we will need in the future and where they are".
He says an increase in the population could see boundaries redrawn.
"I reckon the population is going to be around 5.1 million.
"[This] would mean constitutionally, because the Constitution requires a minimum of one TD per 30,000 population, that would mean a minimum of 170 TDs - which is 10 more than we currently have."
He believes this will "set the hearts racing in a number of places about potential TDs."
"The population, as it has been for quite a few years, increase tends to be concentrated more in the Greater Dublin Area.
"So therefore I would expect to see several extra seats in Dublin and the surrounding areas.
"In Kildare, Meath, Louth, Wicklow... and possibly actually one more in Cork."
And he says a Boundary Commission can get to work with the new data.
"So unless there's an election before the scheduled date of 2025, then there will be a big shake-up in the Dáil.
"It would mean, for example, a majority [of] 86 seats would be required to have a majority in the Dáil".
