First Shannon Candidates Set Out Stall In Election Debate

The first of the Clare FM debates for candidates in the Shannon area has seen election candidates going head to head on the development of Shannon Town, the Airport and housing.

Sitting councillors Pat McMahon of Fianna Fáil and Independent Gerry Flynn were joined by Fine Gael candidates Eugene Long and Garrett McPhilips.

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With less than two weeks to go until polling day, the first group of Shannon candidates have been debating the issues that matter most in their area.

Calls were made for the further development of Shannon Town, though opinions were divided on how that should be achieved.

Fine Gael’s Garett McPhilips doesn’t believe a streetscape is the answer but he does think the town needs a focal hub.

On the Airport, Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn stated that he feels it’s going backwards, having failed to achieve the growth originally projected when the Midwest facility became independent.

He insists it’s time Clare’s Oireachtas members came together to fight on behalf of Shannon.

When it comes to housing in the Shannon Electoral area, and in particular in South-East Clare, Fine Gael’s Eugene Long believes more needs to be done to support young people trying to get on the property ladder.

The retired Garda wants to see the Council building more homes in communities, but he also believes the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Scheme needs further investment.

While Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat McMahon also feels more government support is needed, including in his own Newmarket on Fergus.