Fine Gael is the party of homeownership, if elected I will ensure that public land is used to build both public and private housing. I believe that working together with FG colleagues, we can work to get the 16,000 social, affordable and private homes now in the pipeline for the North Central Area built more quickly. Practical and imaginative collaboration rather that ideological grand standing can get this done.

We have made significant progress in government's "Housing for All" plan. In Dublin:

• 57,705 new homes completed under 'Rebuilding Ireland’/’Housing for All’, 2016-23.
• 12,634 new homes completed in 2023 compared to 10,369 new homes completed in 2022. This will continue to rise in 2024.
• 22,869 new and refurbished social houses brought on stream since 2016.

This has only been achievable by having a robust construction sector, showcasing substantial growth in output compared to trends across Europe.

Additionally, Fine Gael is empowering individuals on their journey to homeownership. First-time buyer activity is at its highest since 2008, thanks to schemes such as the Help to Buy scheme, offering up to €30,000 in income tax rebates, and the First Home Scheme, bridging the financial gap for eligible purchasers. While progress has been made, there's still work ahead. Our aim is to sustain this momentum, ensuring the government continues to deliver a significant number of social, affordable, and private homes.

With housing as our top priority, Fine Gael has implemented policies aimed at boosting the supply of new homes. These include:

• The Land Development Agency, which is constructing new homes on publicly-owned land across the country.
• The Serviced Sites Fund and the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, utilizing state funding to prepare sites by establishing essential infrastructure such as roads, water, and waste-water facilities, enabling developers to commence building new homes.
• The Repair and Lease Scheme, assisting city and county councils in refurbishing vacant homes.
• The Croí Conaithe Schemes, facilitating the increase of apartments and compact development in urban communities, while also aiding in the transformation of derelict properties into homes in rural areas.

In addition to addressing supply, Fine Gael is dedicated to supporting first-time buyers in purchasing or constructing their first home. Since 2017, over 150,000 first-time buyers have achieved this milestone, with nearly 500 individuals becoming first-time homeowners each week.

To aid first-time buyers, Fine Gael has introduced and expanded various schemes, including:

• The Help to Buy Scheme, offering a tax refund of up to €30,000 for use as a deposit, with over 43,600 people approved for this scheme to date.
• The First Home Scheme, a shared-ownership initiative with the State, with more than 3,200 individuals approved.
• The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, where buyers co-own their home with the city or county council.
• The Local Authority Home Loan, a State-backed mortgage tailored for homeowners.

As a Fine Gael candidate for local elections, my approach to improving conditions in existing housing, both social and privately rented, revolves around prioritizing energy-efficient upgrades. By emphasizing incentives for such upgrades, we can not only reduce utility costs for residents but also contribute to environmental sustainability and enhance overall comfort levels. I believe the Council should target the homes of older people to help them to undertake energy upgrades, to adapt homes to their needs or to right size if that is their wish. Existing Council accommodation for older people needs to be upgraded too. More regular inspection of private accommodation by the Council is needed.

One key initiative I would advocate for is leveraging programs like the Fully Funded Energy Upgrades under SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland). This program has shown promising results, with nearly 5,900 upgrades completed in 2023 alone, marking a significant increase from previous years. By focusing on deeper home retrofits, we can ensure that a substantial portion of homes receive comprehensive improvements, leading to more sustainable and energy-efficient living spaces.

Furthermore, I believe in promoting initiatives like the Community Energy Grant (CEG) scheme, which supports energy upgrade projects not only in individual homes but also in community buildings and facilities. By encouraging aggregated applications and community-wide efforts, we can amplify the impact of these upgrades, leading to substantial energy savings and reductions in CO2 emissions.

In 2023, the CEG scheme delivered over 600 home energy upgrades, with a notable improvement in energy efficiency, including the installation of heat pumps and upgrades to a B2 BER rating or better. Additionally, non-residential projects, including community buildings and local businesses, also benefited from significant energy savings and environmental contributions.

By championing programs like these, I aim to address both the immediate needs of residents for improved living conditions and the broader goals of sustainability and environmental responsibility within our communities.

A sense of pride in communities is created through clean and safe streets. I believe our tidy towns groups are under funded by our council and I strongly advocate that they receive more resources for the great work that they do. I am also keenly aware of dumping in our community and believe it is unacceptable for communities to have to suffer at the hands of a few. Dublin City Council must get tougher on those who dump. I am working closely with communities right across Raheny and Donaghmede to ensure there is adequate provision of bins and waste facilities. I believe the city needs to manage its waste in a more sustainable way, and I would like to see more initiatives like the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun.

As a Fine Gael Local election candidate, I am committed to maximizing the utilization of existing residential spaces in our community. Rather than solely focusing on constructing new residences, Fine Gael recognizes the importance of repurposing existing vacant and neglected properties to foster community rejuvenation.

I believe that there is more potential for the Council’s Vacant Homes Officer to target interventions to tackle vacancy. Our efforts are bolstered by the €150 million revolving fund, outlined in the 2023 progress report, specifically designated to address prolonged vacancy and dereliction in major towns and cities. This fund, accessible to local authorities through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), signifies a pivotal step towards revitalizing various locales nationwide, nurturing lively communities within urban hubs.

Crucially, this initiative offers full grant aid covering property acquisition costs, supplemented by an upfront allocation of 20% to ensure local authorities possess adequate resources for addressing this pressing issue.

Moreover, this supplementary funding complements several other initiatives aimed at repurposing vacant and dilapidated buildings into residences, thereby facilitating community revitalization. Notably, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has recently been enhanced, offering a maximum of €50,000 for vacant properties and €70,000 for derelict ones. Furthermore, the eligibility for this grant has been expanded to encompass rental properties and those constructed up to and including 2007. Since its launch in July 2022, nearly 3,000 applications have been processed, underscoring the significant impact of these initiatives in revitalizing our communities.

Ensuring citywide safety is a top priority for me, deeply rooted in Fine Gael's commitment to secure streets and resilient communities. In Donaghmede, we've taken significant steps towards this goal.

This year on 15th March 2024, we had an official launch of Neighbourhood Watch programme for Parkside Estate in Balgriffin. I have been working closely with the residents to establish this programme with the help of our Gardai and it is now fully operational. Through the collective effort of all those involved we have a mechanism which helps us look out for one another.

We are also developing comprehensive Community Safety Plans in conjunction with local groups and authorities. These plans encompass initiatives such as improving lighting and installing security cameras, addressing addiction issues, and increasing police patrols. I shall campaign for a substantial budget from the Council to support the objectives of the new Community Safety Plans, targeting black spots. By pooling resources and joining forces, we can collectively address safety concerns and witness tangible improvements.

I recently advocated for safer communities with Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee. We discussed the necessity for enhanced safety measures and increased police presence in Raheny, Kilbarrack, Belmayne, Donaghmede, and Clongriffin. Dealing with antisocial behaviour demands a concerted effort from law enforcement, government, and local communities alike.

If you're part of a local group, I urge you to reach out and ensure your voice is heard in our ongoing efforts to create safer neighbourhoods.

Improving public transport is vital for a more accessible and efficient city network. Increasing service frequency and enhancing connectivity between different modes of transport is crucial. Coordination between transport operators and local authorities is necessary to streamline routes and reduce waiting times.

Accessibility should be prioritised, with investments in accessible vehicles and infrastructure for people with disabilities. Fare policies should also prioritise affordability for low-income individuals. If I get elected, I will campaign for Mobility Hubs and a substantial public EV charging network.

Transitioning to sustainable transportation is imperative for reducing carbon emissions. This involves investing in electric vehicles, expanding cycling infrastructure, and promoting initiatives like carpooling and ride-sharing.

BusConnects aims to transform Dublin's bus system, providing faster, more reliable, and more frequent services. Collaborating with stakeholders, we can ensure a comprehensive and inclusive public transport system that meets the needs of all residents.

For me, creating safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists is essential for promoting active mobility and reducing reliance on cars. It goes hand in hand with the safer streets and stronger communities that is a top priority for Fine Gael. There’s a need for stricter controls of high-speed scooters and cycling on pavements.

In Donaghmede, I believe that allocating resources towards maintaining pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, like wider footpaths, well-lit pathways, and designated bike lanes, is crucial.

There is active travel route planned for Raheny to Donaghmeade. This is called the Baldoyle to Fairview Active Travel Scheme. As per Dublin City Council, there will be a final section connecting Raheny to the Coast on the final section being part of the Santry River Greenway.

Dublin City Council are also commencing work on the Belmayne Main Street and Belmayne Avenue Scheme. The proposed road scheme involves the new road construction at Belmayne Main Street from Malahide Road to New Priory and road improvement works at Belmayne Avenue and Parkside Boulevard.

The scheme will include a new bus gate junction at Malahide Road/Mayne River Avenue and will also include new bus lanes, traffic lanes, signalised junctions, parking, footpaths, landscaping works and provide safer pedestrian and cycling facilities for the community. The new road scheme will facilitate the development of adjacent lands and a new town centre.

In areas with high pedestrian and cyclist activity, such as residential neighbourhoods, I would advocate for more traffic calming measures, like more speed bumps & zebra crossings.

I moved to Dublin from London in 2016 and have found Ireland to be the complete package in terms of education, quality of life and employment opportunities. I would want anyone coming here to feel as welcome as I do, and I would work to create that sense in our community in Donaghmede.

I join Ministers McEntee and O’Gorman in condemning all acts of intimidation and criminality committed by the small minority who want to sow division in our society.

Arson is a very serious crime which carries heavy prison sentences. No one has the right to cause damage to property, to cause fear, or to threaten public order.

There can never be justification for such acts, regardless of circumstances or alleged motivation. We must stand up against these protesters to show that Ireland is a welcoming country. We have a responsibility as a nation to help those fleeing war and persecution.