It’s claimed Clare’s tourism, infrastructure and healthcare has been forgotten by the “Dublin centric agenda” of successive governments.
With the second week of campaigning underway today for General Election 2024, discussions in this county were dominated by the cost of living, alleged mismanagement of public funds and renewable energy.
‘Santa Claus’ esque giveaways of taxpayers money ahead of the elcection cycle have been described as “cynical” by one Clare General Election who believes a coalition involving a group of independents is the way forward.
Cratloe farmer Eddie Punch is running for Independent Ireland and has been a harsh critic of imbalanced regional development.
He claims this region has been neglected by a Dublin centric agenda which has led to a lack of progress on developing a D-MAP to zone sites off Clare’s coasts for off-shore wind development, despite having Greens in government.
The former General Secretary of the Irish Sheep and Cattle Association has branded policies such as the concrete levy as insane and believes they’ve compounded local issues.
Punch insists Shannon Airport, tourism and the region’s healthcare has been ignored and insists an ambitious approach which prioritises the Western seaboard is needed.
Ennis-based Independent Amanda Major secured 396 votes in June’s local elections and was eliminated on the 4th count, but she believes candidates that prioritise action on the ground rather than party politics are needed now.
The Renewable Energy Enginner says there are too many families in Clare struggling to put food on the table and that people do not feel safe in hospitals or on the streets due to mismanagement of public funds.
An outgoing Clare TD believes the government can no longer be trusted, as in her view it has failed to tackle cost of living for vulnerable sectors when it had the chance to do so during the budget.
Currently, 33% of those aged over 15 with a disability in Clare are in employment, compared to 46% of the general population.
The government did, however, opt for a number of lump sum measures including energy credits, double child benefit and social welfare payments.
But Kilrush Independent Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne insists struggling households are now dreading Christmas, as they’ll be in an unsustainable position once the short term supports run out.
Nationally, housing, health and free public transport are all featuring as the political parties continue their push to win votes today.
Labour is outlining its plans for the health service, the Social Democrats focus on housing, while People Before Profit are giving details of the proposal in its manifesto to roll out free public transport for all.
Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are concentrating on justice and fighting crime with their policy launches today.
Sinn Fein is outlining plans to invest in rural Ireland.
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