The first of the Killaloe debates have been held as Clare FM continues to countdown to the local elections.
Sitting councillors Fine Gael’s Joe Cooney and Alan O’Callaghan and Tony O’Brien of Fianna Fáil were joined by Independent runner Joe Floyd, Barry O’Donovan of the Green Party in last evening’s discussion.
Infrastructure, dumping and crime dominated this debate, as the first group of candidates from the East of the county squard off.
In all, ten candidates are running in that district, accounting for a fifth of the county’s political hopefuls.
As is the case in Leinster House, the National Broadband Plan opened up proceedings.
Fine Gael Councillor Joe Cooney says we need to push ahead with it as the alternative is no broadband – which has serious consequences.
Barry O’Donovan of the Green Party, who is an IT network engineer, says the broadband infrastructure should already be in place.
But he says establishing a dedicated body now may be the best move going forward.
Locally, the issue of roads infrastructure in East Clare also reared it’s head as an issue of concern.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Alan O’Callaghan isn’t convinced enough funding is coming down from central government to address issues there.
n terms of dumping, which is said to be an issue of concern in the East Clare area, Fianna Fáil Councillor Tony O’Brien wants to see more done to tackle the blight on their landscape.
He has strongly condemned those responsible for it.
And Independent candidate Joe Floyd is adamant that more must be done to help Clare’s farming community survive, at a time when they are struggling with poor beef prices.
He says something has to be wrong in how it’s being run.
The remaining Killaloe candidates will take part in their debate on Monday.
Listen back to the debate in full here.
