Attracting inward investment and looking after forgotten towns and villages have been the main topics of discussion at the latest of Clare FM’s Local Election debates.
It’s now just a few days out from polling day on June 7th, and candidates are competing for 28 seats across 5 electoral areas.
Seven of the 15 candidates running in the Shannon Electoral Area have participated in the second of two debates covering the county’s south-east region.
Listen to the full debate here. Continue reading below…
Among the areas covered by the Shannon Electoral Area are Newmarket-on-Fergus, Urlan, Drumline, Clenagh, Sixmilebridge, Mountievers, Killeely, Ballyglass, Kiltenlea and Cappavilla.
As the county’s the employment capital, development and investment have been central to the discussion around election goals for the Shannon MD’s would-be local representatives.
A highly-anticipated project in the area is the One Shannon Hub, for which contracts were signed for concept design in July of last year.
The facility would include a town hall, an adaptable performance and community space, a library, and co-working spaces.
As a key part of the Shannon Town Centre Masterplan, Clonlara Independent Councillor Michael Begley says it’s imperative the building serves the needs of the people of the town.
The site of the Hub is owned by Shannon Commercial Properties but is on a 999-year lease with the local authority from August 2022.
Independent candidate Keith McNamara believes the fact the property is privately owned is a matter of concern.
Many Shannon representatives have been vocal in recent times on their support for a rail link connecting the town and its airport to other parts of the county as well as Limerick City.
Bunratty-based Aontú candidate John Haugh sees the possibility of rail connectivity in the town as a major opportunity.
A running theme throughout the debate was the widely-held belief that parts of south-east Clare such as Meelick, Parteen and Clonlara have been forgotten about by Clare County Council.
Ardnacrusha Fianna Fáil candidate Rachel Hartigan claims the region hasn’t been properly represented since Cathal Crowe’s election to Dáil Éireann four years ago.
Clonlara Fine Gael candidate Val Gillane disputes this claim, however, and says despite Deputy Crowe’s tenure on the Council from 2004 to 2020, major problems persist in the area he represented.
On the subject of infrastructural problems, Westbury Sinn Féin local election hopeful James Ryan insists the street lighting in his locality is wholly inadequate.
The Shannon Electoral Area accounts for 9% of Clare’s roads network and has received 14% of the municipal road works budget for the coming year.
Shannon independent candidate Pat Barry believes it’s shameful in this day and age that basics such as a road maintenance have to be fought so hard for.
Caherdavin-based Green Party candidate Fursa Kavanagh and Sixmilebridge Independent Conor O’Brien were unable to attend either of the two Shannon Electoral Area debates.
Clare FM’s local election specials air on Morning Focus each weekday from 9am, with the remaining candidates from the Killaloe Electoral Area taking part in the final debate tomorrow.
