Politicians unlucky enough to lose their seats at the next general election will be supplied with storage cartons as a gentle reminder to vacate their offices more promptly than many did after the 2007 election.

At its last meeting, the Oireachtas Commission, which allocates offices in Leinster House to TDs and senators, considered new guidelines on the allocation of offices to politicians who have won a seat.

After the last general election in 2007, newly-elected TDs told the commission they were unable to access their offices because defeated candidates were slow to get out.

"It is reasonable to expect that every member would be assigned an office prior to the first sitting of the Dáil or Seanad," agreed the commission.

There were considerable delays after the last general election, the commission minutes noted, without specifying which TDs or senators were reluctant to vacate the offices in Leinster House.

The 17th century building is undergoing refurbishment and it is understood this is causing accommodation problems.

Not all politicians have offices in Leinster House itself: some are housed in nearby Agriculture House while others, such as former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, have their offices across the road from the main entrance to the Dáil.

The party whips have now agreed that a deadline should be set for defeated TDs to vacate their offices so that the newcomers can get settled in before the new Dáil convenes.

And in a gentle effort to speed them on their way and free up offices promptly, the superintendents section of Leinster House will "assist members by providing storage cartons and will also provide advice on the location and cost of off-site storage if required", the commission said.

The commission agreed that draft guidelines specifying the deadlines for vacating offices will be distributed to all members before the next general election.