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It’s almost 3 months since I was selected to run as a Labour Party candidate in the local elections. Now, it’s only 3 weeks to polling day. Neither I, nor my running mate, Cllr Brian McDowell, can believe it!

This week all local election candidates running for Dublin City Council had to formally register. This basically means going through a process whereby you get your name (and identifying photo) on the ballot paper for your particular election area. In my case this is Beaumont – Donaghmede. It is one of the bigger local election areas. There are 9 seats to be decided. The area ranges from the top of Kilmore/Coolock Lane, enclosed by the N32 on one side and Skelly’s Lane on the other, all the way to the sea down by Donaghmede.  The best indication of whether or not you live in this area is the allocation of posters.

The registration process is pretty straight forward – you fill in a form: name, address, occupation, party affiliation (if any) and provide evidence of identity and a recent photo (this will be used on the ballot paper as an identifier and is generally the same as the one used on candidates’ election posters). This form is then approved by the returning officer and ‘processed’. For Dublin City Council candidates you attend in person to register in Dublin City Council Civic Offices on Wood Quay – my first time inside the building.

I registered yesterday, May Day, May 1st.  I felt it particularly relevant that my registration slot was allocated to on May Day as it re-enforced both the personal and political connection I have with the labour movement.

Voting is a democratic process and one we should not take for granted. Obviously every candidate wants every person he/she meets to vote for him/her. I am no different, every vote counts.

To me, your vote is a entrusted gift. It is a partnership of respect and representation, a commitment to work together to enhance the services and amenities in our local area.

Are you registered?

However, if you are not registered, you do not have a vote. You can check if you are registered here.

Getting onto the register

If you are not on the register you can apply before 5pm on Tue 6th May. See HERE for details. You’ll need to complete the form, attach a photo, get a Garda to sign it and deliver it in person or post it to Dublin City Council Franchise Section, Block 4, Floor 1, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. This will enable you to  be placed on the supplementary register and will be able to vote on Friday 23rd May in both the local and the European Elections.

If you are registered to vote in another area you can use a similar process to change you address and vote to where you currently live. Details in the above link

It’s now quite obvious that there is an election coming up. Posters have gone up all over the place, mine included. It is quite of strange to see my face up poles across my local area. Some people love them, others detest them. To me they are a necessary element in bringing all candidates to everyone’s attention. Mixed in among them are posters for those candidates standing in the European elections being held on the same day, May 23rd. This includes the Labour candidate and current MEP for Dublin, Emer Costelloe.

My big focus over the next 4 weeks is to meet as many local people as possible. Meeting everyone will be impossible hence the custom of candidates dropping literature giving details about themselves and blogs like this one where I hope you get a sense of who I am, what I’m like and what I stand for.

In the media

Another way of bringing attention to candidates is local and national media. This week I spoke with RTE’s Cian McCormack for a piece he was doing on local elections around the country. His focus for this piece was Darndale, where I used to teach. It will air on RTE Radio 1’s Morning Ireland on Monday morning, April 28th.

This Sunday, 27th April, I will form part of a panel on NEAR FM’s Making Waves programme from 12 – 1 pm.

One of the issues that arose during my conversations with local residents in the Ardmore/Montrose and Maryfield Crescent areas is that of the on-going flooding problems over the last number of years relating to the Naniken River. Residents in this area have had their homes flooded and many local residents have been prevented from obtaining flood insurance.

My colleague Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD has been working hard on this issue and last year Dublin City Council agreed to allocate €50,000 in its 2014 budget to conduct a hydraulic analysis of the river. This analysis could find the solution to the flooding problems.

However since this agreement, there has been no movement from the City Council to conduct the hydraulic analysis. Residents have indicated that this issue has dragged on for far too long and that it is now time for some action.

To get some movement on this issue I have asked local residents to join me in petitioning the City Manager. The petition will then be sent to him to give him the strongest possible message that we need progress on this issue.

As many people as possible need to respond so please add your support – together we can make a difference!

This week is probably the last ‘peaceful’ week of my campaign. Next week the election posters go up and the dynamic changes. As a first time candidate I’m not sure how I’ll react to seeing my face all over the place.

Water charges

This week has been dominated by questions on water charges – the lack of actual information causing concern to many. See here for my views on this issue.

Why politics?

Another question that has dominated is how did I get involved in politics? Given that there are so few women in politics and that many people care cynical about politics I can see how many would question why anyone would get involved. The video below tells how and why I got involved.

As I’ve gone around my local area this week the main question on everyone’s lips is ‘when can we have clarity about domestic #watercharges?’. Like many issues, when there is a void of grounded factual information stories and speculations abound. This week’s media discussion on water charges have lacked clarity and real details and are causing distress, particularly to vulnerable people. 

Clarity regarding charges

In my view, the key and most significant focus of the discussion on domestic #watercharges should be on ascertaining an appropriate individual water allowance. This water allowance should afford each individual free water to accommodate his/her daily needs:

• Drinking
• A daily wash/shower
• Toilet flushing
• Meal making
• Clothes washing
• Home cleaning/washing-up

I would suggest one ‘generous’ base individual allowance per home with a subsequent ‘average’ allowance for each individual living in the home after that. It does not stand to reason that allowances be based on the size of one’s home – people use water, not houses! 

There is also a need to consider those who have particular medical conditions that require using additional water.

Once these details have been decided upon the discussion can focus on the charge per litre of water used in addition to one’s daily allowance.

Vision going forward

We need a publicly articulated and convincing vision from Irish Water. For example, we need timelines on the repair and upgrading of our water infrastructure; we need a programme of information and education on water conservation. 

Future possibilities

Is there the possibility into the future, when all the leaks have been fixed and we potentially have water surplus to need, that Irish Water becomes an exporter of what will be a very valuable resource? If we don’t think long term or plan then …..

Last month I started a survey to ascertain local residents’ views on the potential use of the Laurence Lands. These lands are currently vacant lands owned by Dublin City Council on the Oscar Traynor Rd. backing on to the Castletimon Estate. I greatly appreciate the time taken by over 150 residents, many of whom I met in person, to respond to the survey.

Use of land

The overwhelming majority of respondents (almost 90%) would prefer that the land should be maintained for community use. There was a wide range of suggestions regarding the potential use of the land, these included a playground, fitness circuit, a park, a community centre and a basketball court. It was also indicated that the potential expansion of Gaelscoil Cholmcille be taken into consideration

Age group in need of amenities

It also appears that teenagers are the age group most in need of local amenities with almost 60% of respondents indicating this. Other age groups in need of amenities were young families and children. This would indicate that a mix of amenities should be considered.

Starting point

There was a consensus amongst respondents, that regardless of what the land be used for in the future, it should be better lit and better maintained, particularly the path, than it is at present. This suggests our initial starting point going forward.

Where to now

I am in the process of compiling all the survey data I received into a short report and will send it onto the Area Manager in Dublin City Council for his consideration. I have also included this feedback in a letter which I am presently dropping into local residents’ letterboxes

Thank you!

Thanks to all the local residents who engaged with me and my team on this issue. It is important that your voice on what you want for your local community is taken into consideration and heard.

Since my last blog on rebuilding social houses Minister Jan O’Sullivan officially announced a €68m investment in building and refurbishing social houses. This initiative was launched this morning (March 11th) in Darndale, Dublin 17. I taught in this area and know that many of its young people wish to return to live there but cannot do so because of housing shortages. From this €68m investment, €7.9m will go towards building 35 houses in the Buttercup Park area of the estate.

As I have previously indicated, building new social houses and making vacant houses habitable for those on our social housing lists not only gives vulnerable families a home and a sense of community belonging but it also provides local employment opportunities, particularly for skilled construction workers, increases local retail and business activity, reduces anti-social behaviour, increases the attractiveness of our local communities and promotes greater social cohesion.

For the Buttercup Park area this investment will significantly contribute, not only, to alleviating the serious social housing waiting lists in the area but also to improving the area for families.

The area in Buttercup Park where the new houses will be build; Myself, Minister Jan O’Sullivan & Cllr Brian McDowell

At the Labour Party Conference I spoke on the need to rebuild vacant council houses and return them to social use. This is what I said

Clickhere to view and/or read below

It goes without argument that we all want to live in communities that are clean, safe and green

• Where streets, footpaths, roads and common areas are well maintained
• Where that are local social and recreational amenities

However, disused land, boarded up buildings, in particular boarded up vacant council houses, do not serve our communities well.

The fact that there are thousands of council houses lying vacant and in disrepair when we have more than 90,000 families on social housing waiting lists is not acceptable.

In Dublin city alone demand for social housing way outstrips supply with families often waiting up to 10 years to secure an appropriate home.

All vacant houses must be made habitable for those on our social housing waiting lists. Doing so not only gives vulnerable families a home and a sense of community belonging but it also

Thanks to my Labour colleagues in Dublin City Council, I have seen first hand the social, environmental and economic benefits in my local area with the rebuilding of the Bunratty Masionettes and I hope to see further rebuilding in the Buttercup area of Darndale very soon.

At a national level, the Trojan work done by Minister Jan O’Sullivan in this area must also be acknowledged, particularly the securing of €15m for local councils to bring long term vacant housing back into social use. Also most welcome & significant is the Minister’s 2 year social housing building programme.

However, while this does indeed make a significant difference, more, much moreis needed.

• We need to continue to put pressure on NAMA to release to local councils, all the housing it has, that is suitable for social housing.
• We need to put pressure on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to more proactive and innovative.

All our communities deserve to flourish. And all families in need of a home, in need of security and stability deserve to be provided for more effectively that they are at present.

Myself and Deputy O’Riordain discussing the Bunratty Massionettes

Since I spoke on this Minister Jan O’Sullivan has highlighted increasing social housing as a key priority. See here