In local government there are always going to be a variety of issues to contend with, and certain core issues made me want to become your representative at a national level.

I believe in opening up local government, decentralising the decision-making processes and empowering communities.

Whilst politicians seek election to office to represent their respective political parties in our communities, I am seeking to be elected to represent our community in government.

To put it simply… our community is our “party”. A vision for our communities is based on a few very basic ideas:

A Positive and Progressive North West for all.

A key purpose of local government is to promote the well-being and quality of life of citizens and communities, through effective, accountable representation, and efficient performance of functions and delivery of services. I am of the view that Councillors need to be more positive and focus on what local communities and the entire county of Sligo has to offer. Councillors need to be the economic drivers and leaders for the county.

Employment and Rural Enterprise.

Unemployment in our communities is having a very negative effect on an entire generation, causing depression and hopelessness for many people.

• I will work to access all available funds to assist in job creation in our county. Through my voluntary work as a community activist I am aware that there are funds available for community initiatives, training and job creation and in the future, when not spent locally will be sent back to Europe.
• I will work to ensure that County Sligo receives its fair share of support and funding from the European Social Fund to assist and encourage youth employment to keep young people working in their communities
• I will work to ensure that funds are easily accessible and not tied up in layers of bureaucracy. Grants are available under Cohesion Funds for retraining and up-skilling of those who are unemployed. Education and training funds must be made available to those most in need in a clear and public way, so that communities who need them can easily access them.
• Decisions affecting all aspects of the community for example, its facilities, its infrastructure and safety, its life and well-being should, as far as is possible, be taken by community representatives, and should serve the interests of the community and not the narrow agenda of any political party.
• I will be happy to work with political parties or individual members of those parties for the greater good, subject to their acceptance of the priority of community, in the local decision-making process.

Community Development – tackling rural isolation and promoting social inclusion.

Community Alert, Men’s Sheds and Community Fitness Activities are examples of methods I have already used to deal with these issues to support vulnerable people in rural communities. I firmly believe in these methods and I regularly hear from people who have benefited from various community initiatives and who are now encouraging others to do so. I hope to continue to identify local needs to address social isolation issues within rural communities.

Unifying Tourism:  Recreational, Sports, Cultural and Heritage Tourism.

Sligo is being marketed at home and abroad as a “clean, green” adventure playground and has a wealth of numerous unique attractions to offer. I hope to assist in promoting Sligo as a cultural and recreational tourism centre, and to make sure the county and tourism businesses within it gets all the central government help that is available to do this. The growing tourism industry in Sligo will create jobs and has tremendous potential for further growth and by supporting the efforts of all stakeholders in this industry, we will see real and tangible economic benefits for our county.

Promotion of Physical and Mental Well-being in our Communities.

This is a very important issue particularly in these challenging times. Communities are coping with unemployment, emigration, recession and reduced wages, but we are working hard to maintain positive outlooks to negotiate our way through the challenges of life. The physical, social and psychological benefits of physical activities are proven and is often shown that by meeting others, through various physical activities, may be the first step toward establishing new friendships and developing a support network to help build and sustain healthy communities. Social benefits of participation in physical activity include increased community cohesion, improved social/community networks and social capital, improved family and community connectedness, safer communities; and a reduction in a sense of isolation and loneliness.

Participation in sport and physical activity also provides social benefits specific to children and older adults as proved with the provision in Grange of a large playground and improved park facilities including adult gym equipment and a riverside walkway.