Concern has been expressed that farmers in Clare are being cheated out of their livelihoods by the meat industry.
With just ten days to go until voters go to the poles, agriculture, rural communities, housing and wastewater infrastructure have been the focus of discussions in this county.
With the first televised debate of party leaders out of the way, election tensions are now at fever pitch, with time slipping away for Dáil hopefuls to win over voters.
Here at home, candidates continue to lock horns over local issues, chief among them the lack of sewerage systems and housing in rural areas.
Currently, there are 50 towns and villages in this county without connection to wastewater infrastructure, while affordable housing is only available in Ennis and Shannon.
In Budget 2025, €1bn was allocated directly to Uisce Éireann for capital projects, while another €3bn was ringfenced for a separate water and energy infrastructure fund.
Fianna Fáil Candidate, Doonbeg Councillor Rita McInerney believes the money is there, but a strong approach is needed for Clare projects to take priority.
One of the newest parties to enter the election race, meanwhile, believes the Government isn’t keeping it simple when it comes to boosting its construction workforce.
As part of an action plan launched in 2021, the coalition had aimed to recruit 10,000 new apprentices every year, but last year alone, this target fell over 1,200 workers short.
Tuamgraney’s Barry O’Donovan previously stood for the Green Party in the 2019 local election and secured over 7% of the first preference vote in his electoral area.
Now running for Rabharta (The Green Left), he believes the construction workforce can be doubled to expedite housing targets, if adequate supports are provided to sub-contractors.
A Clare Independent candidate believes no-one is talking about the acute cost of living crisis facing farmers.
The ACREs scheme, nitrates derogation, climate measures facing farmers and the Mercusor trade deal, which supports 2,300 Irish jobs through exports have all come under intense scrutiny from lobby groups.
Kilkee farmer Kevin Hassett says there are major price discrepancies for primary producers in Ireland and those across the pond, an issue he believes is not being treated with the urgency it deserves.
An architect running in his second general election campaign in Clare, following a jaunt in June’s European Election, claims farmers are being cheated out of their livelihoods.
Michael Leahy believes the Nitrates Derogation should not be a blanket ban, should focus on the existing water quality of an area and that the monopoly of the meat industry needs to be challenged.
The Ennis-based Irish Freedom Party candidate claims due to the level of red tape and lack of supports, farmers consider the Department of Agriculture “Enemy Number 1”.
On the campaign trail today, Sinn Féin is the last of the big three parties to launch its manifesto entitled ‘A Choice for Change’ with housing, childcare and the cost of living set featuring prominently.
The Social Democrats will also launch their document which will include five red lines for entering Government – among them appointing a senior minister for disabilities
Elsewhere, Fine Gael is talking healthcare, Fianna Fail is looking at education, Aontu is talking cost of living, it’s climate for Labour and leaving cert reform for People Before Profit.
Listen to the full interview here
