Cathal Crowe

    In the build-up to election 2020, Clare FM is meeting each of the candidates and allowing them a chance to outline to you, the voter, what they will do if elected on February 8th.

    Mayor of Clare, Cathal Crowe, is running for Fianna Fáil.

    My vision for Clare:

    CONTINUE READING BELOW

    I want to see County Clare and its communities (both rural and urban) to achieve their full potential. I will fight for funding and state supports that allow for sustainable rural life in our county and economic growth. As Mayor of Clare for the past 8 months I have put Shannon Airport, healthcare reform, rural living, housing and employment in the region top of my agenda. If elected to Dáil Éireann I will be very vocal on these topics and the many other issues that impact on the people of Clare.

    My priorities if elected:

    Health:
    Fight for the provision of more hospital beds and recruitment of nurses / consultants so that Clare and the wider mid-west region has the capacity to provide modern and progressive healthcare.

    Rural:
    Roll-out of fibre broadband across Clare, retention of rural post offices, roads funding and market supports for farmers post-Brexit.

    Shannon Airport & tourism:
    Policies that promote and enhance Shannon Airport so that an increase of its overall market share can be achieved. Support Clare’s vibrant tourism sector.

    Towns & villages:
    Fight for the needs of the towns and villages of our county – build new schools and refurbish old ones, keep Garda stations open, sewage schemes, flood defences & support local enterprise to keep jobs in Clare.

    Housing:
    Ensure young couples and working families can own their own home through an Affordable Housing Scheme, build more council houses and increase supply to reduce rent and rising house prices

    Job creation:
    Support local entrepreneurs to set up businesses that retain 3rd level graduates in our county, continue to attract FDI to the county and reduce bureaucracy for SMEs.

    My experience:

    At the age of 37, I will be the youngest candidate on the ballot paper in Clare. I was elected to Clare County Council at the age of 21 and have for 16 years been an outspoken Councillor that isn’t afraid to take a stand for my county. I am a primary school teacher by profession but prior to this I studied politics, history and economics at U.L. and worked as a parliamentary assistant to Brian Crowley MEP in Brussels.

    For the past 8 months I have served as Mayor of County Clare. I have used my elected office to champion, at a national stage, for the big issues that affect our county and its people.

    I am married to Maeve and we have 3 young children under the age of 5. I understand first-hand the costs and challenges associated with mortgage repayments, providing for childcare etc. and, in this regard, have had a number of inputs to my party’s policy documents.