The housing crisis has caused misery for countless people across our constituency. Many people feel trapped paying sky-high rents while unable to save up for a deposit to buy their own home. Others are living at home with family, without hope of getting a place of their own where they could have their own independence. Others feel forced to emigrate because they can’t picture a future here in Ireland. Others are in HAP properties in sub standard accommodation with the state paying huge sums to landlords. Currently there are 10,000 people homeless in Dublin with almost 4,000 children.

Everyone should have the right to a secure and affordable home. A change of government is needed to unravel and reverse decades of bad housing policy.  Sinn Féin has proposed a referendum to create a constitutional right to housing for all.

A Sinn Féin government will take a different approach to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. We set out in our 2024 Alternative Budget that a Sinn Féin government will deliver greater investment, increase targets to match demand, cut out red tape which is resulting in delays of up to 2 years before a brick is laid, use new technology to build, speed up planning and introduce changes to tax code to incentivise building of affordable homes.

Sinn Fein would invest in, and develop neighbourhoods, rather than just throwing up apartment blocks. We would ensure there are adequate amenities and local services for everyone. We would increase funding for housing cooperatives, such as O Cualann housing, in the building of affordable housing across the city.

If elected, our team of Sinn Féin councillors will work hard on the council to tackle the housing crisis. We will work to deliver affordable purchase homes through Local Councils and Approved Housing Bodies at prices people can genuinely afford. Local councils and Approved Housing Bodies will deliver the new affordable homes on public land, in Sinn Féin’s plan for government.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

A multifaceted approach is required to meet the urgent demand for more housing, particularly social and affordable options. First and foremost, increased density and development within Dublin's industrial estates are critical, but we must go further. Our planning system must be more transparent, allowing for the quick and efficient approval of housing projects.

Furthermore, we must ensure that new developments are supported by necessary infrastructure, such as childcare facilities and shops, in order to foster sustainable communities.

There are two major obstacles to increasing the supply of social and affordable housing that the Council could address; Land/property hoarding and the absence of a council/state construction capacity.

To tackle land/property hoarding, DCC should proactively monitor and document vacant and derelict sites and buildings. The Vacant Site Levy should be enforced more proactively and new, escalating rates should be introduced for longer term vacancies. After a specified period, DCC should use compulsory purchase powers to acquire vacant sites/buildings.

To increase the supply of local authority housing, DCC and councillors should lobby government for funds to build up construction capacity in the council and to support the establishment of a state-owned construction company to work with local authorities and the LDA to deliver new homes. In the interim, DCC should cease the sale of public land to private developers and instead contract to build public housing on public land according to plans developed by the council, in-house to meet the needs of Dubliners.

I hope the new planning bill currently going through the Oireachtas will help update our very slow planning system, which in turn will lead to building houses quicker. In my own area of Finglas and Ballymun, there are plans to build over 2,000 units but the council must be delivering quicker given the current crisis. All the tools are now there for local authorities with the Housing for All plan so the pressure is on to deliver. Less bureaucracy and more power to local authorities.

The housing crisis has caused misery for countless people across our constituency. Many people feel trapped paying sky-high rents while unable to save up for a deposit to buy their own home. Others are living at home with family, without hope of getting a place of their own where they could have their own independence. Others feel forced to emigrate because they can’t picture a future here in Ireland. Others are in HAP properties in sub standard accommodation with the state paying huge sums to landlords. Currently there are 10,000 people homeless in Dublin with almost 4,000 children.

Everyone should have the right to a secure and affordable home. A change of government is needed to unravel and reverse decades of bad housing policy.  Sinn Féin has proposed a referendum to create a constitutional right to housing for all.

A Sinn Féin government will take a different approach to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. We set out in our 2024 Alternative Budget that a Sinn Féin government will deliver greater investment, increase targets to match demand, cut out red tape which is resulting in delays of up to 2 years before a brick is laid, use new technology to build, speed up planning and introduce changes to tax code to incentivise building of affordable homes.

Sinn Fein would invest in, and develop neighbourhoods, rather than just throwing up apartment blocks. We would ensure there are adequate amenities and local services for everyone. We would increase funding for housing cooperatives, such as O Cualann housing, in the building of affordable housing across the city.

If elected, our team of Sinn Féin councillors will work hard on the council to tackle the housing crisis. We will work to deliver affordable purchase homes through Local Councils and Approved Housing Bodies at prices people can genuinely afford. Local councils and Approved Housing Bodies will deliver the new affordable homes on public land, in Sinn Féin’s plan for government.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

The housing crisis has caused misery for countless people across our constituency. Many people feel trapped paying sky-high rents while unable to save up for a deposit to buy their own home. Others are living at home with family, without hope of getting a place of their own where they could have their own independence. Others feel forced to emigrate because they can’t picture a future here in Ireland. Others are in HAP properties in sub standard accommodation with the state paying huge sums to landlords. Currently there are 10,000 people homeless in Dublin with almost 4,000 children.

Everyone should have the right to a secure and affordable home. A change of government is needed to unravel and reverse decades of bad housing policy.  Sinn Féin has proposed a referendum to create a constitutional right to housing for all.

A Sinn Féin government will take a different approach to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. We set out in our 2024 Alternative Budget that a Sinn Féin government will deliver greater investment, increase targets to match demand, cut out red tape which is resulting in delays of up to 2 years before a brick is laid, use new technology to build, speed up planning and introduce changes to tax code to incentivise building of affordable homes.

Sinn Fein would invest in, and develop neighbourhoods, rather than just throwing up apartment blocks. We would ensure there are adequate amenities and local services for everyone. We would increase funding for housing cooperatives, such as O Cualann housing, in the building of affordable housing across the city.

If elected, our team of Sinn Féin councillors will work hard on the council to tackle the housing crisis. We will work to deliver affordable purchase homes through Local Councils and Approved Housing Bodies at prices people can genuinely afford. Local councils and Approved Housing Bodies will deliver the new affordable homes on public land, in Sinn Féin’s plan for government.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

I would advocate for the council to use its compulsory purchase order powers more often, especially for long term vacant buildings. There are simply far too many vacant buildings lying derelict for over 10-15 years and we need to use them and bring them into use.

We need to reduce the bureaucracy of building houses too. It should also be possible to speed up the planning process. It just takes too long to build houses. 

To improve conditions with social housing we need to reverse the move towards privatisation in Dublin City Council. We need more Council workers focussed not only on maintaining the housing stock, but also in Roads, Parks and Waste Management, rather than private companies focussed on making profits. A major issue we find in our area is mould and dampness, and the Council are spending a fortune paying private companies to tackle it. We believe DCC workers would be cheaper for the tax payer and work to a very high quality.

Ireland’s housing is considered as the second least affordable in the world. The average cost of renting in Ireland is now €1,972 a month. In Dublin, this figure ranges from €1,500–€2,500 per month ranking Ireland as the fourth most expensive country to rent in Europe.

The latest Daft.ie report shows house prices continuing to spiral upwards. In the year to March, prices have jumped by 6.5%. The report also details average house prices in the main cities including Dublin at €437,125 – up 3.2%. The report noted a reduction in the number of homes available to buy in March, down 24% on the same period last year and down 40% on the pre-Covid average listings in 2019.

Sinn Féin would reduce and freeze spiralling rents. We have set a target of halving the council housing waiting list during one term of in office through our council-led building programme on public land, and we will clear the waiting list within a decade. These policies will increase the supply of affordable homes for average workers to purchase or rent at below current market rates.

Another major issue for renters in our area is the lack of security of tenure. Sinn Féin will legislate for tenancies of indefinite duration to provide renters with real security of tenure. These tenancies are the norm in many European countries and there is no reason not to have them here. We have pledged to remove RAS and HAP tenancies from the legal definition of council housing to reflect the temporary nature of these tenancies and the fact that tenants in these schemes do not have long-term security of tenure.

We also need to review the tax treatment of landlords to ensure equity of esteem among all categories of landlords and bring an end to tax breaks that provide no real return to the housing system.   Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

Improving living conditions in social and private housing is critical. Regular inspections and maintenance of social housing are critical to maintaining standards. We must also support initiatives that improve building standards and insulation in existing homes. Furthermore, the council must actively address cases in which private rentals fail to follow regulations, providing assistance as needed.

For social tenants across the City, there are huge issues with maintenance and repairs. These problems are a direct result of under-resourcing of council Housing Maintenance departments and outsourcing of maintenance to private contractors. In Ballymun-Finglas, we have run a petition campaign calling on Dublin City Council to hire more maintenance workers on a permanent contracted basis. DCC should look at opening up new trade apprenticeships to bolster this effort. This would create sustainable, well-paid employment and improve the capacity of the council to address maintenance requests.

Having a larger number of skilled maintenance workers would have the added benefit of speeding up turnover of “voids”, vacant properties owned by the council and in time, these maintenance workers could also begin work on retrofitting of council-owned homes to make them more energy efficient. If elected, I will pursue direct hiring of maintenance staff by bringing motions to the council and by pursuing the issue at relevant committees with People Before Profit Colleagues.

For Private tenants, the issues are more complex and require legislative changes at the national level – to introduce more stringent rent controls, a ban on “no-fault” evictions and harsher penalties for unscrupulous landlords. At the local level, I would push to expand DCC’s capacity to inspect buildings to ensure against overcrowding and breaches of other minimal standards for tenancies. I would push for restrictions on the use of AirBnB and other short-term letting platforms in the City and I would use my platform as a councillor to support tenants unions like CATU, which I am a member of myself, as a private renter.

Increased funding for retrofitting DCC’s existing housing stock. This will also help with climate action. I have contacted the private rented section on several occasions during my time as a Councillor and found that section to be quite efficient, so we need to ensure that they are properly resourced.

To improve conditions with social housing we need to reverse the move towards privatisation in Dublin City Council. We need more Council workers focussed not only on maintaining the housing stock, but also in Roads, Parks and Waste Management, rather than private companies focussed on making profits. A major issue we find in our area is mould and dampness, and the Council are spending a fortune paying private companies to tackle it. We believe DCC workers would be cheaper for the tax payer and work to a very high quality.

Ireland’s housing is considered as the second least affordable in the world. The average cost of renting in Ireland is now €1,972 a month. In Dublin, this figure ranges from €1,500–€2,500 per month ranking Ireland as the fourth most expensive country to rent in Europe.

The latest Daft.ie report shows house prices continuing to spiral upwards. In the year to March, prices have jumped by 6.5%. The report also details average house prices in the main cities including Dublin at €437,125 – up 3.2%. The report noted a reduction in the number of homes available to buy in March, down 24% on the same period last year and down 40% on the pre-Covid average listings in 2019.

Sinn Féin would reduce and freeze spiralling rents. We have set a target of halving the council housing waiting list during one term of in office through our council-led building programme on public land, and we will clear the waiting list within a decade. These policies will increase the supply of affordable homes for average workers to purchase or rent at below current market rates.

Another major issue for renters in our area is the lack of security of tenure. Sinn Féin will legislate for tenancies of indefinite duration to provide renters with real security of tenure. These tenancies are the norm in many European countries and there is no reason not to have them here. We have pledged to remove RAS and HAP tenancies from the legal definition of council housing to reflect the temporary nature of these tenancies and the fact that tenants in these schemes do not have long-term security of tenure.

We also need to review the tax treatment of landlords to ensure equity of esteem among all categories of landlords and bring an end to tax breaks that provide no real return to the housing system.   Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

To improve conditions with social housing we need to reverse the move towards privatisation in Dublin City Council. We need more Council workers focussed not only on maintaining the housing stock, but also in Roads, Parks and Waste Management, rather than private companies focussed on making profits.

A major issue we find in our area is mould and dampness, and the Council are spending a fortune paying private companies to tackle it. We believe DCC workers would be cheaper for the tax payer and work to a very high quality.

Ireland’s housing is considered as the second least affordable in the world. The average cost of renting in Ireland is now €1,972 a month. In Dublin, this figure ranges from €1,500–€2,500 per month ranking Ireland as the fourth most expensive country to rent in Europe.

The latest Daft.ie report shows house prices continuing to spiral upwards. In the year to March, prices have jumped by 6.5%. The report also details average house prices in the main cities including Dublin at €437,125 – up 3.2%. The report noted a reduction in the number of homes available to buy in March, down 24% on the same period last year and down 40% on the pre-Covid average listings in 2019.

Sinn Féin would reduce and freeze spiralling rents. We have set a target of halving the council housing waiting list during one term of in office through our council-led building programme on public land, and we will clear the waiting list within a decade. These policies will increase the supply of affordable homes for average workers to purchase or rent at below current market rates.

Another major issue for renters in our area is the lack of security of tenure. Sinn Féin will legislate for tenancies of indefinite duration to provide renters with real security of tenure. These tenancies are the norm in many European countries and there is no reason not to have them here. We have pledged to remove RAS and HAP tenancies from the legal definition of council housing to reflect the temporary nature of these tenancies and the fact that tenants in these schemes do not have long-term security of tenure.

We also need to review the tax treatment of landlords to ensure equity of esteem among all categories of landlords and bring an end to tax breaks that provide no real return to the housing system.   Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

More needs to be used of our existing housing stock. Dublin City Council needs more financing for it to able for it to retrofit all existing social housing. Long delays on this need to be cut down too.

I would extend the eviction ban until more rental rights are enacted. Lots of people now are forced to uproot their lives for no reason whatsoever, which is extremely damaging for both the family, individuals and the community. ‘No fault’ evictions should be stopped as well as removing the grounds which allows a landlord to end a tenancy on the basis that they intend to sell the property within three months.

Dublin can be a beautiful city to live in, work in or visit. However, a lot more can be done to ensure we have a clean environment, including clean streets. The Sinn Fein councillors on Dublin City Council have been campaigning to have bin services brought back into public ownership. The privatisation of waste collection has not worked. It has led to increased dumping and a general decline in cleanliness across the city. We also need more public waste services such as bins and recycling centres.

I think education is key so working with local schools in our area and showing the younger generation what needs to be done. We are also very lucky in that we have a number of Tidy Towns groups who do brilliant work. They should not be a substitute for the council but supported by the council and working with them they have an important part to play.

As councillors we would also support, and seek to increase, the employing of dog wardens to work in areas where we have a lot of dog poo as some people just allow their dogs to wander around.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

The cleanliness of our streets is an important concern for most residents. We need to establish more frequent cleaning schedules, which have been neglected for far too long. Increasing the number of bin collections and installing more public bins and dog waste disposal facilities in residential areas are critical steps. Furthermore, encouraging community engagement through initiatives such as tidy towns fosters collective responsibility for the environment.

Revive the PBP motion to bring domestic waste services back into council control. In addition to providing more reliable and affordable bin collection to Dubliners, free recycling centres and services should be expanded, more “amnesty days” and bulky goods collections should be organised and maintenance of the public realm should be taken back in-house, with no more reliance on outsourcing to private contractors.

At street level, public bins should be re-instated and new bins, including recycling bins should be introduced where they did not exist before. It is scandalous that the Council reduced the number of bins across Dublin City.

The long-awaited LGMA guidelines have been passed, which will allow local authorities to effectively use CCTV again to catch culprits. I think Councils could use technology better with the use of drones, number plate recognition etc. Dog Poo is a harder issue but there is no doubt that the city needs more dog wardens and litter wardens.

Dublin can be a beautiful city to live in, work in or visit. However, a lot more can be done to ensure we have a clean environment, including clean streets. The Sinn Fein councillors on Dublin City Council have been campaigning to have bin services brought back into public ownership. The privatisation of waste collection has not worked. It has led to increased dumping and a general decline in cleanliness across the city. We also need more public waste services such as bins and recycling centres.

I think education is key so working with local schools in our area and showing the younger generation what needs to be done. We are also very lucky in that we have a number of Tidy Towns groups who do brilliant work. They should not be a substitute for the council but supported by the council and working with them they have an important part to play.

As councillors we would also support, and seek to increase, the employing of dog wardens to work in areas where we have a lot of dog poo as some people just allow their dogs to wander around.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

Dublin can be a beautiful city to live in, work in or visit. However, a lot more can be done to ensure we have a clean environment, including clean streets. The Sinn Fein councillors on Dublin City Council have been campaigning to have bin services brought back into public ownership. The privatisation of waste collection has not worked. It has led to increased dumping and a general decline in cleanliness across the city. We also need more public waste services such as bins and recycling centres.

I think education is key so working with local schools in our area and showing the younger generation what needs to be done. We are also very lucky in that we have a number of Tidy Towns groups who do brilliant work. They should not be a substitute for the council but supported by the council and working with them they have an important part to play.

As councillors we would also support, and seek to increase, the employing of dog wardens to work in areas where we have a lot of dog poo as some people just allow their dogs to wander around.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

New bye laws are needed to strengthen the ability for fines to be levied through a zero tolerance approach. The current situation is that a litter warden needs to both see the dog disposing of it and the dog owner neglecting to dispose of it. I believe that, if local authorities were permitted to use CCTV to detect and fine dog-fouling offenders, it would act as a strong deterrent. There should be zones with intensive enforcement in them for streets with persistent fouling. Likewise, Labour Senator Mark Wall has done excellent work on seeing legislation passed allowing for councils to better use CCTV footage to identify repeat offenders of dumping - which costs local authorities 100 million every year on clean ups.

New bins need to be put where there are no bins currently. There are many long stretch of road in Ballymun-Finglas in which there are no bins which makes it difficult to dispose of waste. We also need more litter wardens.

There are far too many vacant and derelict properties in our capital city, including in the Ballymun Finglas consituency. Many of these homes are lying idle for years. Some are being left to rot, becoming derelict and a further blight on our communities. Dublin city council needs to turn vacant properties around a lot quicker, some properties in our area are left vacant for months and this is not acceptable.

Sinn Féin would encourage local authorities to Compulsory Purchase, where practical, and return to use derelict properties alongside increased utilisation of the Buy and Renew scheme. We would also request monthly updates to increase the collection of the Derelict Sites Levy and to speed up the return of vacant social homes.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

Vacancy and dereliction blight our communities and must be addressed proactively. Initiatives should focus on rehabilitating vacant and derelict properties, possibly through council intervention and offering them as social housing, or encouraging owners to rehabilitate their properties and participate in schemes such as the HAP programme.

I will be calling for a comprehensive audit to be carried out on vacant and derelict properties across Dublin City. It is a disgrace that there are so many empty homes when so many are in need of housing. The audit I propose follows from campaigning I have led in Ballymun-Finglas, highlighting derelict homes and vacant council-owned homes or “voids”.

A punitive tax should be applied to vacant privately-owned houses and sites, with the rate escalating with duration of vacancy, to encourage the owners to bring the property back into use or to sell. After a specified period, or where an owner can not be found, DCC should use its power to compulsory purchase and use these acquisitions for housing.

DCC should hire more maintenance workers to bring their properties back into use more quickly – this should happen on a strict timeline.

As a councillor I would also examine the possibility of retrofitting commercial and non-residential buildings for housing, as has been done by DCC in the Dublin Bay South Area recently. Capacity for these retrofits should be increased so that over-shop space, old churches and other buildings can be repurposed for the good of all Dubliners.

I think the Croí Cónaithe vacancy grants and new taxes have helped. The voids list is published monthly by each LEA which is important to ensure that DCC stock is turned over as quickly as possible. We could examine the total gutting of houses when a tenant transfers, passes away or the council buys a property, surely there are elements that don’t have to be changed which would speed up how long they are vacant.

There are far too many vacant and derelict properties in our capital city, including in the Ballymun Finglas consituency. Many of these homes are lying idle for years. Some are being left to rot, becoming derelict and a further blight on our communities. Dublin city council needs to turn vacant properties around a lot quicker, some properties in our area are left vacant for months and this is not acceptable.

Sinn Féin would encourage local authorities to Compulsory Purchase, where practical, and return to use derelict properties alongside increased utilisation of the Buy and Renew scheme. We would also request monthly updates to increase the collection of the Derelict Sites Levy and to speed up the return of vacant social homes.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

There are far too many vacant and derelict properties in our capital city, including in the Ballymun Finglas consituency. Many of these homes are lying idle for years. Some are being left to rot, becoming derelict and a further blight on our communities. Dublin city council needs to turn vacant properties around a lot quicker, some properties in our area are left vacant for months and this is not acceptable.

Sinn Féin would encourage local authorities to Compulsory Purchase, where practical, and return to use derelict properties alongside increased utilisation of the Buy and Renew scheme. We would also request monthly updates to increase the collection of the Derelict Sites Levy and to speed up the return of vacant social homes.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

The government's plan to tackle vacancy and dereliction is simply not working. Vacancy and derelict houses make our streets less safe and make antisocial behaviour worse.It is worth noting that is costs a lot of money to bring a building into use after it has become derelict - so we need to keep buildings in use.

A key element is a proper audit and register of vacanct and derelict houses. Many of us know of derelict houses, but DCC are slow to react. A through inspection of houses assumed vacant means that the CPO process can be used to bring these properties back into use. The budget for compulsory purchase orders needs to be increased, as it is a key power in DCC’s hands and leads to an decrease in the number of derelict houses. 

Communities deserve to feel safe and protected. But too many people in our capital city feel unsafe. Sinn Féin have outlined our proposals to invest in the Gardaí, so we can have more Gardaí on our streets protecting communities. We would introduce a public transport policing unit to ensure people can feel safe while using public transport.

We would get to grips with the recruitment and retention crisis in the Gardaí to end the huge numbers resigning. We also need to increase and support the Gardaí in working closer with communities. We need to increase funding for community policing as many communities have been abandoned to drug dealers and organised crime gangs.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

To ensure our city's safety, we need to take a comprehensive approach. Increasing the number of Garda patrols is critical for addressing systemic issues that contribute to crime, such as a lack of services and support for vulnerable communities. Furthermore, investing in recreational facilities and after-school activities for youth provides positive outlets and opportunities for personal growth.

• Increase street lighting in residential areas and parks. • Invest in and support “assertive” outreach work with young people, so that youth workers reach young people not currently using or engaged with traditional youth services. • Increase council funding for traditional youth services to bring funding back to pre-austerity levels and expand from there. • Increase council investment into clubs and sports. Subsidise gym membership for young people, attach more training opportunities to existing sport and leisure facilities to allow young people to earn money in the growing fitness industry and elsewhere. • Support the construction of a “scrambler” and dirt-bike track for the north suburbs, following the model of the Clondalkin Equine Centre. The space should have youth workers attached to promote responsible bike use and could provide education and training to young people in bike/auto mechanics, engineering and motorsport. • Introduce adult drop-in social centres that offer a range of activities and facilities including showers. Integrate with homeless services, addiction support workers and other services. • Support the establishment of more supervised drug consumption facilities practicing harm reduction and integrating addiction support services. This would get drug use of city streets and into a safe environment where supports would be available to drug users.

More Gardaí on the beat and the proper resourcing of community Gardaí. I read recently about plans to expand the force to 18,000, which I welcome, but these Gardaí should be put in our communities and be visible to make people feel safe. The administration burden for Gardaí also needs to be examined.

Communities deserve to feel safe and protected. But too many people in our capital city feel unsafe. Sinn Féin have outlined our proposals to invest in the Gardaí, so we can have more Gardaí on our streets protecting communities. We would introduce a public transport policing unit to ensure people can feel safe while using public transport.

We would get to grips with the recruitment and retention crisis in the Gardaí to end the huge numbers resigning. We also need to increase and support the Gardaí in working closer with communities. We need to increase funding for community policing as many communities have been abandoned to drug dealers and organised crime gangs.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

Communities deserve to feel safe and protected. But too many people in our capital city feel unsafe. Sinn Féin have outlined our proposals to invest in the Gardaí, so we can have more Gardaí on our streets protecting communities. We would introduce a public transport policing unit to ensure people can feel safe while using public transport.

We would get to grips with the recruitment and retention crisis in the Gardaí to end the huge numbers resigning. We also need to increase and support the Gardaí in working closer with communities. We need to increase funding for community policing as many communities have been abandoned to drug dealers and organised crime gangs.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

One of the main complaints that I hear when I go door to door, especially from elderly people, is the lack of street lighting. Adequate street lighting is crucial for elderly people, women and people with disabilities.

We need more community guards. Policing concerns are a constant issue raised on the doors, and Ballymun-Finglas has never has never had enough guards. Gardai do trojan work but we need more of them, and they need more resources.

Increased investment in local sports clubs like football and basketball is somewhere beyond crucial in my opinion. Sports is essential for several reasons - mental health, physical health, community, friendship, but it is also crucial for providing an outlet for young people to get out of the house, into fresh air and keep them occupied. We need more facilities, from football astros to basketball courts.

Outreach work needs to be supported too, so no child or teenager falls through the cracks. Of course, this is easier said than done, but it needs to be considered.

Road safety and accessible transport are at the heart of ensuring people can live, work, and play safely in their communities. Last year, 2023, saw the highest number of deaths on our roads in almost a decade. In terms of public transport, Dublin ranked worst out of 30 European Cities in 2023. It’s time for change. We recognise that many children cannot safely access school without relying on a lift from parents. This can be a burden to parents, but it also reduces young people’s independence. In government we would increase funding to make getting to school safe. Ensuring more active travel, such as cycling and walking, will be a key way to tackle the climate crisis. To ensure this is realistic, people must feel confident that they can do so safely.

We support auditing all footpaths and putting in place a programme of footpath restoration so everyone can walk and move around their local area confidently. We must also take our elderly into consideration as a lot of the new bus routes want people to swap buses mid route and this might not work for them. While out canvassing this issue has come up a lot. In our area a major issue is that we have no direct bus to the airport to help workers and people using the airport, this is a service which is needed, and if elected we will work to see that it is done. Improving public transport across Dublin is an essential element in making the city a vibrant living community. There are many models of similar cities that have public transport systems that meet the needs of their communities. What we need is the political commitment to do it.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

Improving public transit infrastructure is critical to the city's efficiency and accessibility. Expedited building of systems such as FingLUAS and Metrolink is critical. Furthermore, speeding the adoption of BusConnects while addressing community concerns is key. Increasing night bus service in densely populated regions and allowing bicycles on busses and LUAS during off-peak hours should be investigated to encourage active commuting.

Public transport should be made free and frequent in Dublin City, with increased capacity and investment by the state. DCC can advocate for this.

Build the Metro and Luas extension, which will encourage fewer people to use their cars in the city. There are elements of the city Busconnects programme such as the high-frequency spines and connections to the airport that are to be welcomed, however, the loss of a localised service in many areas will have a negative impact, particularly for older people.

Road safety and accessible transport are at the heart of ensuring people can live, work, and play safely in their communities. Last year, 2023, saw the highest number of deaths on our roads in almost a decade. In terms of public transport, Dublin ranked worst out of 30 European Cities in 2023. It’s time for change.

We recognise that many children cannot safely access school without relying on a lift from parents. This can be a burden to parents, but it also reduces young people’s independence. In government we would increase funding to make getting to school safe. Ensuring more active travel, such as cycling and walking, will be a key way to tackle the climate crisis. To ensure this is realistic, people must feel confident that they can do so safely.

We support auditing all footpaths and putting in place a programme of footpath restoration so everyone can walk and move around their local area confidently. We must also take our elderly into consideration as a lot of the new bus routes want people to swap buses mid route and this might not work for them.

While out canvassing this issue has come up a lot. In our area a major issue is that we have no direct bus to the airport to help workers and people using the airport, this is a service which is needed, and if elected we will work to see that it is done. Improving public transport across Dublin is an essential element in making the city a vibrant living community. There are many models of similar cities that have public transport systems that meet the needs of their communities. What we need is the political commitment to do it.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

Road safety and accessible transport are at the heart of ensuring people can live, work, and play safely in their communities. Last year, 2023, saw the highest number of deaths on our roads in almost a decade. In terms of public transport, Dublin ranked worst out of 30 European Cities in 2023. It’s time for change.

We recognise that many children cannot safely access school without relying on a lift from parents. This can be a burden to parents, but it also reduces young people’s independence. In government we would increase funding to make getting to school safe. Ensuring more active travel, such as cycling and walking, will be a key way to tackle the climate crisis. To ensure this is realistic, people must feel confident that they can do so safely.

We support auditing all footpaths and putting in place a programme of footpath restoration so everyone can walk and move around their local area confidently. We must also take our elderly into consideration as a lot of the new bus routes want people to swap buses mid route and this might not work for them.

While out canvassing this issue has come up a lot. In our area a major issue is that we have no direct bus to the airport to help workers and people using the airport, this is a service which is needed, and if elected we will work to see that it is done. Improving public transport across Dublin is an essential element in making the city a vibrant living community. There are many models of similar cities that have public transport systems that meet the needs of their communities. What we need is the political commitment to do it.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

Metrolink needs to start and we need to deliver it quickly. It should be able to take pressure off other services and will lead to a more efficient service.

We also need to invest so that more bus stops have good lighting, shelter spaces and real time information, which should make many feel safer about taking the bus at night.

We need to advocate for more buses actually arriving on time too.

We must also constantly monitor bus routes as Bus Connects iis rolled out to ensure all communities have a reasonable, quality service that we deserve.

This question is linked to many of the previous ones. We need a city that is accessible to all our people, that they feel safe in and which is clean. Many of the cycling initiatives have in the past pitted cyclists against motorists in some sort of competition. That is not how it should be. The city needs to be safe for cyclists and walkers, but also accessible to those who need to use a car. Clearly marked cycle lanes, walkways, and driving lanes are necessary. Facilities such as park and ride, supported by clean, safe, efficient public transport are needed. We need to reimagine the city, and we in Sinn Fein want to work with others to achieve it.

Our parks services do a great job in maintain our parks and other green areas. They need our support and again working with communities develop areas that we can all be proud of.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

Improving pedestrian and bike infrastructure is critical to promote alternate modes of transportation. The city is widening walkways, creating greenways, and building active travel routes to prioritise pedestrian and cyclist safety and convenience. Furthermore, establishing more bicycle parking spaces in high-traffic locations promotes sustainable commuting habits and is an objective of mine.

Work should continue on pedestrianisation of parts of Dublin City Centre but alongside this, alternatives to private car travel must be made more reliable. This will require state investment.

Green spaces and biodiversity promotion in our city should be a major focus for the council’s public domain strategy. More green spaces in the grey city and suburbs. More initiatives to involve community in the creation of new biodiverse spaces. An end to environmentally destructive practices like the use of pesticides and herbicides.

I welcome the proposed redevelopment of Finglas Village and the prioritisation of pedestrians and cyclists in urban villages like Finglas.

Support the expansion of protected cycle lanes.

Support DCC cycle safety campaigns in schools across Dublin City.

I regularly cycle into the city centre and I feel relatively safe, I would support more cycle lanes if they don’t have a huge impact on traffic such as Griffith Avenue, which has had a dramatic negative impact on traffic in the area. Hopefully with improvements to public transport people will have a variety of methods to go into the city centre.

This question is linked to many of the previous ones. We need a city that is accessible to all our people, that they feel safe in and which is clean. Many of the cycling initiatives have in the past pitted cyclists against motorists in some sort of competition. That is not how it should be.

The city needs to be safe for cyclists and walkers, but also accessible to those who need to use a car. Clearly marked cycle lanes, walkways, and driving lanes are necessary. Facilities such as park and ride, supported by clean, safe, efficient public transport are needed. We need to reimagine the city, and we in Sinn Fein want to work with others to achieve it.

Our parks services do a great job in maintain our parks and other green areas. They need our support and again working with communities develop areas that we can all be proud of.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

This question is linked to many of the previous ones. We need a city that is accessible to all our people, that they feel safe in and which is clean. Many of the cycling initiatives have in the past pitted cyclists against motorists in some sort of competition. That is not how it should be. The city needs to be safe for cyclists and walkers, but also accessible to those who need to use a car. Clearly marked cycle lanes, walkways, and driving lanes are necessary. Facilities such as park and ride, supported by clean, safe, efficient public transport are needed. We need to reimagine the city, and we in Sinn Fein want to work with others to achieve it.

Our parks services do a great job in maintain our parks and other green areas. They need our support and again working with communities develop areas that we can all be proud of.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

There is a need for balance here. Cyclists need to be encouraged to cycle; but that requires more work. There are some cycle lanes that are so dirty and filled with muck and rubbish that it is dangerous to cycle in, so this needs to be improved.

There needs to be huge work done in terms of fixing broken footpaths. Broken footpaths present huge accessibility problems especially in terms of elderly people and people with buggies. 

We in Sinn Fein want to have a fair, equal, and diverse society. All sections of our communities must be able to feel safe and included. Arson is a crime in any context and anyone found guilty of arson should face the full rigours of the law.

In terms of the far right, the main problem is misinformation. By feeding misinformation to people who have legitimate concerns they try to divide our communities. We can’t allow that to happen. We need to be honest that our immigration system currently isn’t working, but any anger should not be directed towards those vulnerable people fleeing oppression. It should be directed at the government which has failed to handle the issue properly.

Ireland does not, and should not, have open borders. We have a rules based system where people who need protection can apply for it. It has been badly managed, and under resourced, for years. Decisions in cases are taking too long. If an application is refused, there is little or no follow up. There is a crisis in accommodation, which feeds into the general housing crisis, and decisions are being made without any consultation with communities affected. In such a situation is it any wonder that far right agitators are sowing dissent and hate.

We need to supply the resources so that the rules can be applied fairly, and transparently. The big tech companies also have a role to play in this as blatant lies are allowed to be put up online. It is legitimate to have concerns and to be able to express those concerns, but we need to have an open and honest debate, and put in place the policies and procedures to deliver for those who need our help and for our communities.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

Combating the rise of far-right beliefs and hate crimes needs a collaborative effort between the community and local government. Active engagement with communities to address concerns and communicate progress is critical. Effective techniques include promoting multicultural events and cultivating a sense of community unity and inclusion.

Furthermore, addressing underlying concerns such as housing insecurity will help reduce social tensions and improve cohesion. My personal campaign will be a monument to these ideas of inclusion and acceptance, being an immigrant myself who was welcomed with open arms to this country more than 25 years ago.

As a People Before Profit rep and committed anti-racist I have played an active role in Ballymun for All, Finglas for All and Dublin NW Communities against racism. I would continue my work with these grassroots alliances but I would also advocate for the council to play a more active role in challenging misinformation and lies spread by far-right agitators.

The growth of hate movements is in part attributable to state and council failure – on housing, the provision of essential services and to the deepening of inequality. This can not be papered-over or ignored. In anti-racist and anti-fascist work it is critically important to have this clarity. There can be no ambiguity, or united front with government parties who have created the conditions for this problem to grow.

More locally, I have seen first hand the power of local community in countering the far-right – in Ballymun, youth workers and community organisations played a pivotal role in countering misinformation and pulling people away from those attempting to sow division in our community. I have also seen the power of positive community building work centring inclusion – the Ballymun Running Club, the Ballymun Tidy Towns group involving local asylum seekers and the efforts of local schools to foster inclusion and diversity. I believe the council could do a lot more to promote inclusion through funding cultural events and initiatives in the community.

DCC should also provide stronger support for its staff members facing abuse by the far-right, be it in public libraries, civic offices or elsewhere.

I think a zero-tolerance approach is needed here, particularly arson attacks and attacks on individuals. The government must also explain our immigration policy better and state how important immigration is to our economy and workforce as there is a lot of misinformation out there. Social media companies must also be held to account as they allow misinformation to spread and remain in circulation without repercussions.

We in Sinn Fein want to have a fair, equal, and diverse society. All sections of our communities must be able to feel safe and included. Arson is a crime in any context and anyone found guilty of arson should face the full rigours of the law.

In terms of the far right, the main problem is misinformation. By feeding misinformation to people who have legitimate concerns they try to divide our communities. We can’t allow that to happen. We need to be honest that our immigration system currently isn’t working, but any anger should not be directed towards those vulnerable people fleeing oppression. It should be directed at the government which has failed to handle the issue properly.

Ireland does not, and should not, have open borders. We have a rules based system where people who need protection can apply for it. It has been badly managed, and under resourced, for years. Decisions in cases are taking too long. If an application is refused, there is little or no follow up. There is a crisis in accommodation, which feeds into the general housing crisis, and decisions are being made without any consultation with communities affected. In such a situation is it any wonder that far right agitators are sowing dissent and hate.

We need to supply the resources so that the rules can be applied fairly, and transparently. The big tech companies also have a role to play in this as blatant lies are allowed to be put up online. It is legitimate to have concerns and to be able to express those concerns, but we need to have an open and honest debate, and put in place the policies and procedures to deliver for those who need our help and for our communities.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

We in Sinn Fein want to have a fair, equal, and diverse society. All sections of our communities must be able to feel safe and included. Arson is a crime in any context and anyone found guilty of arson should face the full rigours of the law.

In terms of the far right, the main problem is misinformation. By feeding misinformation to people who have legitimate concerns they try to divide our communities. We can’t allow that to happen. We need to be honest that our immigration system currently isn’t working, but any anger should not be directed towards those vulnerable people fleeing oppression. It should be directed at the government which has failed to handle the issue properly.

Ireland does not, and should not, have open borders. We have a rules based system where people who need protection can apply for it. It has been badly managed, and under resourced, for years. Decisions in cases are taking too long. If an application is refused, there is little or no follow up. There is a crisis in accommodation, which feeds into the general housing crisis, and decisions are being made without any consultation with communities affected. In such a situation is it any wonder that far right agitators are sowing dissent and hate.

We need to supply the resources so that the rules can be applied fairly, and transparently. The big tech companies also have a role to play in this as blatant lies are allowed to be put up online. It is legitimate to have concerns and to be able to express those concerns, but we need to have an open and honest debate, and put in place the policies and procedures to deliver for those who need our help and for our communities.

Note: Ballymun/Finglas LEA Sinn Féin candidates Anthony Connaghan, Mick Dowling and Leslie Kane submitted all their answers jointly.

The rise of the far right is possibly one of the most concerning political trends in the last few years and is part of the reason that I have become increasingly active in politics.

We need to be able to showcase the strengths and advantages of people coming to Ireland and enable people to use their skills here. Systems like direct provision help no one, and we need a system where it is easy for people who come here can get a job and showcase their skills.