The sole Ennistymon area debate took place last evening.
The seven candidates for the Ennistymon electoral area have gone head to head on some of the main issues impacting on North Clare.
Tourism, rural problems, business and economy dominated proceedings.
While the North of the county relies heavily on tourism to allow it to thrive, some concern was expressed from local election candidates that it was becoming too congested – and Blake’s Corner once again reared it’s head.
Sitting Fine Gael Councillor Bill Slattery says the notorious traffic blackspot is having a serious impact on Ennistymon and the surrounding areas.
Green Party candidate Róisín Garvey, meanwhile, was one of those who has issued a call for a more even spread of benefits of tourism across the region.
Fine Gael’s Joe Garrihy is echoing that call and says all of the towns and villages in the region can benefit if it’s marketed as a whole and they’re not competing with each other.
However, concern also emerged in the course of the debate that North Clare is being forgotten about, with too much focus on communities east of Ennis.
Fianna Fáil’s Shane Talty says they’re feeling the effects across their infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the persistent problem of housing – which is country-wide, not just a Clare issue – also reared its head.
Sinn Féin’s Noeleen Moran fears it’s not just an affordability issue, people are struggling to get permission to build new homes.
And while beef farmers continue to struggle with low prices for their produce, Fianna Fáil candidate Joe Killeen says it’s vital to extend farming schemes to benefit those working in that sector.
Listen back to the debate in full here
This evening, from 6pm, sees the next Clare FM debate involving candidates from the Killaloe Electoral Area.
