Social and affordable housing must be built on state land. Successive governments have limited the power of councillors so this needs to be given back so that local communities can have a better say in where and how housing is built. We also need to remove the bureaucracy and the red tape that delays the construction of new homes. One area which cannot be removed is public consultation on planning permission. There is a way to build housing is quick and fair and given the current crisis it is a necessity. We also need to give power back to the councils which was removed in 2014. This will ensure that Local Government can respond to the need of housing on a localised level. 

Ensuring that that my LEA has adequate amenities and services is one of my biggest priorities. For years the people of Lusk, Rush, Donabate and every town in my LEA have suffered from a lack of services. Fingal County Council needs to ensure that planning permission for housing must include services like childcare, youth groups and exercise facilities. I have seen first-hand what happens when housing is built without the necessary infrastructure and the devastating effects it has on communities. I am from a generation in North County Dublin that has been failed by successive councils and governments. In my area childcare has become scarce and health services have become overwhelmed with many people who have recently moved to Fingal still belonging to their GP’s from closer to the city. Ensuring that sufficient youth services is extremely important to me, the creation of more recreational spaces is a priority for me should I be elected. Addressing the power outages in my LEA is also a priority as this has been a problem that has not been addressed for far too long. I would also advocate for new cultural and youth centres such as the one planned for Donabate which as of now, has no clarity. Getting timelines and sites is extremely important so that these amenities can be built. Fixing the lack of services and amenities in my LEA is something I am extremely passionate about and something which I will fight for if I am elected in June. 

The expansion of Dublin Airport would be a good thing as it would bring more jobs to the area and grow the economy. However this must be done having adhered to all regulations and guidelines. The DAA has not adhered to these and the lack of consultation with local residents is worrying. More homes in the area now require sound insulation as a result of An Bord Pleanála’s case regarding night flights. These families need to be supported and heard. 

The public transport situation in North County Dublin is disastrous. 70% of Fingal’s workforce commutes outside of Fingal largely due to insufficient public transport. Lusk and Rush are serviced by the 33, 33x and 33a bus routes. These busses are regularly late or cancelled all together. The 33b is the only regular bus route out of Donabate and Portrane and only goes as far as Swords. Two busses would be necessary in order to get into Dublin City. The privatisation of the bus routes in my area has been devastating. These busses do not come regularly enough to accommodate the population of my LEA. As a result, the busses that do come, are often overcrowded. In Ballyboughal, The Naul, Garristown and Oldtown the bus services are not adequate. The Local Link does not take Leap Cards and does not come regularly enough. This needs to be remedied. It is perhaps time for the addition of new bus routes or the expansion of existing ones at minimum.

The train situation is not much better. Rush and Lusk Train Station is located in between the two towns. The road leading up to the station is too close to the main road and dangerous. I myself have had to duck while walking up that road when a tractor has come to avoid machinery sticking out. A complete upgrade and expansion of the Station Road is needed. With regards to the train itself, they too are often overcrowded and stuffy. I have witnessed commuters passing out from the heat on the train to college in the morning. Also, like with the busses, train services do not come regularly enough to accommodate the population of our area. The extension of DART services to Balbriggan would be great for commuters from Rush, Lusk and Donabate. It would also be great for Donabate/Portrane as the peninsula has limited road access. I would also advocate for the addition of Donabate, Lusk, Rush, Loughshinny, Skerries and Balbriggan to the Dublin Metrolink plans as to be left behind in this decision would be disastrous.  

High quality roads is extremely important. The Old Beflast Road which connects Lusk and Donabate to Swords has fallen into disrepair. This road has numerous pot holes which can cause damage to cars and trucks. On the road many cars will swerve to avoid these holes which can lead to an increased risk of collisions. Given that this road is the main road into Dublin City, investing in it is important. We need to revitalise our roads with the addition of signs and road bumps. Blakes Cross for example, is notorious for accidents so I would advocate for a redevelopment here at minimum to reduce the amount of accidents, with the proper public consultation of course! Cycle tracks are also important. The Station Road that connects Rush and Lusk, as well as R127, are extremely dangerous for cyclists. It is time to build cycle tracks here to ensure that cyclists and vehicle drivers are protected I am also a strong supporter of the greenway to make walking and cycling to Malahide from Donabate/Portrane easier. 

We need real investment in this kind of infrastructure. The roads that connect the various towns in Fingal are extremely dangerous. We need these roads to be developed so that vehicles and pedestrians can travel at ease. Public consultation is also important here. While I welcome these extremely necessary upgrades, they need to be done in conjecture with public consultation. We cannot have a situation where these upgrades cause more harm than good as is with the new cycle path installed near Corduff on the Old Belfast Road outside of Lusk. This example also shows where we need public consultation. Many people have been in contact with me about this and that they’d prefer to have seen the Station Road redeveloped. This is why public consultation is important as we can’t have councillors who are out of touch.

Biodiversity is a necessity if we are to be serious about tackling Climate Change. Climate activism must be at the forefront of any and all policies going forward. I would advocate for the planting of trees throughout my LEA. Trees are perhaps the best tool we have in tackling the lack of biodiversity and Climate change in Fingal. The implementation of biodiverse patches of land would be important, similar to those found in Dublin City. I would also encourage the planting of native Irish trees rather than foreign ones which will help biodiversity. While the power councillors have is limited, this is an area in which very significant and positive change can be implemented. 

I would advocate for new green spaces to be built in new housing estates. I would also advocate for sports facilities such as Astro pitches, basketball courts and running tracks. The lack of sports facilities in my LEA is very clear. Many people have to travel to use sports facilities in my LEA which is inconvenient at best. Sport is something which everyone can enjoy so investing in these facilities is necessary and goes a long way in terms of building a community and general health and wellbeing.