Manifesto

A Chara,

I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to run for Fianna Fail, but more importantly, to represent the wider community and all the people that make up the Dundalk South LEA.

When we started out in 2020 and created the Haggardstown Tidy Towns, it really made us realise what a difference a group of likeminded people can make to a community. But what really stood out for me was the sheer amount of work needed to make our community a better place in which to live, work and rear our families.

Expressly, an effective local Councillor is one of the people, who shares a joint vision. An advocate with that shared vision, a voice toward a better future for all: residents and families, local business, and community groups.

Community leadership is what is truly needed at the heart of local government. And I see and expect the council working and engaging in partnership with councillors to develop a vision for their area. Councils need clear strategies and policies to enable them to achieve their vision. To make best use of resources and deliver services that meet the needs of local communities. To have a strategic plan. As a councillor, I would expect to contribute to the development of these policies and strategies. To bring the views and priorities of our local area to the debate or monthly meetings. To engage with all the people in fostering a sense of ownership in some way. In a sense, the people should also have an input in this plan for our future.

So, to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to improve services, roads, infrastructure, planning policy, amenities, and all aspects of what our community needs to improve the quality of life for our citizens. People really expect at least that.

The root cause of many off our problems now is a serious lack of a local representative at the county council table and fight in a way for a piece off the budget, and ultimately there lies the saying that all politics is local.

Blackrock and Haggardstown has, become enormously built up. It’s a type of Urban sprawl that I believe is suffocating the area and the people. I have lived here all my life from 1973, when it was a very small community with two schools which were a good size for the pupils attending, a few shops, and a warm and friendly community. And, we had so many things to do and lots of open space. The fabulous facility off the community centre was built way back in 78/79 and there were areas like the ferns which were large sand dune type ground. Rock Celtic and The Geraldines was there to play our games and the running club was alive and vibrant. The swimming pool and skating hall were also there on our doorstep. This is testament to the great work our councils, activists and politicians played in them days.

But as time has moved on, we now have a very different scenario. Most of these outlets are gone. Replaced by buildings and houses. In the last 45 years are so, it just seems to have got so built up where we now have around 12,000 people in our community. But houses seem to have been the only thing built. That’s where lies the real problem. We haven’t built all the things needed that goes with housing and mass population. Our children are lacking in these fundamental and vital requirements. This, I believe has happened through poor planning and a serious lack of local political will. We have now for over 13 years, had no local representation on the council and what we have now is a serious problem within our
community.

There are many issues, but the 5 main areas of concern that needs attention.

1. Housing built without the infrastructure that goes with them.

• Proper flat green areas within housing estates that children can play on. Not lots of small and hilly green spaces just to make up the area for getting over the planning rules and regulations which are unsuitable, unsafe and unattractive for all our children.
• Developers finishing outside these estates properly with some development levies used accurately and for the local area for proper and safe footpaths from estates to schools finished as part of a larger plan.
• Shops and local amenities within a certain distance for people should be accessible by well-maintained cycle lanes and safe and suitable footpaths for people to at least have some comfort and not needing to drive everywhere. This is where climate action funding should be
  spent.

2. Our village in Blackrock needs a completely new draft plan created.

• Parking is a real problem. I know older people who must park away from the village and walk to the chemist and supermarket because of no parking. This is so hard on them. There is alternatives and collectively, and together, we need to push the council on this. They just don’t seem to see that there is a problem on the ground.
• We also need more car charging points.
• We probably have over 140 people working daily in our village and these people would be taking up at least 70% of the spaces there so this could be looked at also.
• We have a beautiful village, and our footpaths are in a very poor state. This is a real concern.
• Our public toilets are not fit for purpose and closed in some cases when we really need them open.
• Our Garda station needs life brought back into it as it was a very vibrant and community orientated station which I believe can truly be brought back to that way again.
• A greenway is there to be explored and a possible Fane River walkway via the old boathouse to attract tourism and give our locals an alternative to cramming the already narrow footpaths of the village.

3. Haggardstown needs to be looked at as a priority.

• Houses being built and no amenities again. This is a real issue. And a massive problem coming down the line.
• Roads are under invested, and the western relief road should be finished between Wuxi and the Marlbog road as its causing massive congestion on all the roads around it i.e. the chapel road and this would also ease the congestion at the black spots of Sextons and the Greengate’s.
• No shops or community facilities at all. A community centre and commercial centre is a must. Pitches, green areas, and children’s play areas. No question about it. A serious social problem lies ahead here, if we don’t tend to this issue immediately.
• A local bus route that runs through Haggardstown is vitally needed now to service Blackrock and Dundalk. Schools would benefit massively at the danger points off drop off and pick up. The Dublin Road service is not fit for purpose anymore.
• We also now, need to look at reserving land in this area and land that is located close to roads for parkland, green open spaces and this is all for community needs. Not just putting zoned community land in the middle of privately owned ground which is inaccessible and out of
  reach.
• A possible greenway/bike track running alongside the Famine Graveyard where the walkway is formed in some way already but very difficult to access.

4. School places and the lack of them.

• We have over 140 children leaving our parish every day heading to Dundalk to Primary school.
• We have a real need for another primary school in the area at least planned and designated ground and funds in place to start it.
• With regards to secondary schools, we have, I’d say over 1000 children at least going into Dundalk to secondary school. Why we haven’t pushed for a secondary school through political means is hard to understand. (This was earmarked across from Sextons in Raynoldstown Village, but Colaiste Cuchulainn in Dundalk was funded instead). Again, we did not have community power and leadership to avert this decision
• The safety of 70 plus children from Blackrock going to Haggardstown across the (R132). No way for pedestrians or bicycles.
• The safety of over 110 children going from Haggardstown area over to St Francis school with no way across the Dublin Road. (R132)

5. And finally, pathways, roads, transport, and dangerous junctions:

• Our main Dublin Road has become a very dangerous place to drive. The junctions off the Greengate’s, Sextons and Jackie Murphy’s and Supervalu Golf Links Road area is over used, cars are struggling to get across them and an accident is waiting to happen.
• They need to look at traffic lights at Sextons certainly and major traffic calming measures also.
• The lack of certainty around the finishing off footpaths on busy roads like the Rock Road and the inability for children to even walk to school because off this which in turn, creates massive traffic congestion problems at the schools at peak times.
• An all round better road network now to deal with the influx of population.
• A local bus route through Haggardstown, and as I said, people need this service. The social impact off poor transportation cannot be highlighted enough.

Concerns over Rates and new development levies:

• We need to ask the tough questions about the rates being paid by our commercial business and companies within our parish. The figures are staggering with likely figures of over €4 million being payed annually.
• The whole area off where this money is going and what it is being used for. Some off these funds should be used within our area.
• The further question of new Building and construction levies being paid over the last 5 years which I believe is around a staggering €3 to €4 million euros. Where is this going and who is fighting our corner at budget stage. That is my concern.

To finish up and conclude:

Sustainable development goals are at the heart of healthy
communities.

The whole area of population and the rise in people and cars and larger vehicles is having a massive knock-on effect on the community. Large  factories and business are popping up everywhere and we need some level of strategic review. The roads are clogging up going into Dundalk at peak times on all roads and this is because everyone is going the one direction for schools especially. More houses are creating and worsening this problem without the vital services positioned in the correct places. People need to see where we are at the minute and understand where this is all going. It’s only going to get worse. We have what I believe is a modern-day problem and it’s right here on our doorstep.

We have a real social problem here and, going to get most likely worse down the line if we don’t say stop, and plan this out properly.

I understand that some people will think, well it’s not my child, it’s not on my road, it’s not my school, it’s not my community and so it’s not my problem. But there are still many many people out there that see the need for action and want to help, and step in and respond.

I also, don’t think there is any off these projects insurmountable and taking things one step at a time and completing them, will really have a positive impact on everyone within the community. It’s about making real changes to help people’s lives and livelihood within our area now so that our children’s children get the benefits from what we do today and what should be planned correctly going down the line for the future.

This is what I believe is needed and I feel that very strong local political will is what will drive this on. Nothing that is ever truly important to do is ever easy. We cannot afford to stand on the sidelines or just sit around tweeting, blaming, or bemoaning the uselessness off others. If we think things need to change, well we need to change them. And that means getting involved. The people of the area deserve a voice and I feel that now is the time for me to try and see can I make a difference.

I believe that I have the drive, ambition, and ability to get work done and have the experience to understand our needs through my local involvement with committees, clubs, and groups. Im local, well known and not afraid to pull my sleeves up and get going on it. I will try my very best and if the people in the area want a local back in the council, with a voice for the people, well then, Im willing to go forward. I don’t want to be sitting in June wondering what could have been. And I don’t want to have regrets.

A big challenge will be getting people to vote, because more than half of all people who could vote in this area 5 years ago, just didn’t vote. Around 52% I think, didn’t vote. That’s a fundamental problem which we all need to take responsibility for.

I’m not sure whether people understand how important a vote really is and the knock-on effect of who is elected and where they come from. The level off importance in having a local person fighting for local issues is incredibly hard to put a value on but it’s now a fundamental for our area.

And again, sometimes, it only hits home when you have a problem or emergency at your own doorstep that needs resolved by local support.

So, let’s see where this all takes us. Hopefully, the people off the community come out and vote and make the right choices.