I have great respect and value for our community and rural life. I wish for our children to be able to live in and enjoy the communities they grew up in and not to be forced by lack of opportunity and lack of employment to leave their communities or leave Ireland.

Through my voluntary work as a community activist I’ve become aware of how difficult it is for ordinary people to access support and funding. The fact is that there is funding available for a range of projects that could benefit the community and the individual but unfortunately, I have found that it is very difficult to access these funds because of red tape and layers of bureaucracy.

It is the job of our local representatives to make sure that this situation is not allowed to continue. Funding access must be made easier for people and those of us who have succeeded in negotiating the difficulties involved with getting projects off the ground must help others to do so.

As contributors to our communities we need to look at the things we can affect. I know from experience that with work and determination we can build a playground or start a Men’s Shed or Community Alert. I know because I’ve done it.

Fundamentally, I am running because I believe I can get things done. Now I feel it is time to bring that experience to bear for the wider community.