Labour candidate for Graiguecullen/Portarlington, Eoin Barry, has said that ending the scourge of vacant and abandoned homes in Laois will be a priority for him if elected on June 7.
Labour leader TD Ivan Bacik visited Barry in Portarlington to highlight the failure of the Government in regards to addressing the housing crisis.
He says one of his key focuses will be introducing a monthly report on vacant council properties, greater use of compulsive purchase orders and an audit on half used buildings.
Barry also wants to introduce a use it or lose it scheme for planning rules for the huge number of empty homes to reignite towns like Portarlington.
Labour has been seeking to make changes to the Government’s Planning and Development Bill in what they believe will “amend the housing crisis”.
Barry said: ”Developers cannot be allowed to leave sites empty when the housing, vacancy and dereliction crises continue.”
According to him, a complicated administrative structure is slowing the government down and giving them inability focus on the housing problem in this country.
He said: “The current compulsory purchase process is too slow and cumbersome. If elected to represent the people of Graiguecullen Portarlington, I will work to ensure that we can act decisively to reclaim these spaces for the benefit of our society
“Creating vibrant and safe communities is a key focus of all Labour local election candidates. Our community in Laois is in desperate need of affordable housing and accessible areas for collective use like parks and playgrounds
“The time to act is now. I am asking voters to put their faith in me, a candidate with a plan to create a community that works for all, on 7th June in the local elections.”
Fine Gael propose partnership with Laois farmers
Laois/Offaly TD Charlie Flanagan has announced that Fine Gael’s National Food, Agriculture and rural development Forum are planning to form a new partnership with farmers in Laois and Offaly.
The forum will hold a series of meetings with farmers, rural residents and agricultural business owners in Laois but is yet to put forward a detailed plan on how action could be taken on feedback received which the Taoiseach Simon Harris has requested.
The report which is yet to be released is to contain five main areas – the future of the EU’s agricultural policy, a reform on land leasing, climate and environmental issues.
This report, according to Fine Gael will be by the party in the formulation of new agricultural and rural policies.
Thus far the forum has recommended that landing leasing payment rates should be limited in order to address rising leasing costs.
They have suggested a new upper limit on the tax free element of land leasing. However, chair of the forum Eddie Downey has said that no figure for a proposed cap has been put in place.
He said: “When I put my name forward to chair Fine Gael’s National Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Forum, I did so because I believed this party sees a future for Irish agriculture.”
TD Charlie Flanagan is equally optimistic about the future of the agricultural forum.
Flanagan said: “Fine Gael values the essential role farmers across Laois and Offaly play in our economy and our society.”
The agricultural sector in Ireland currently employs over 170,000 people. According to a report released by citizens information board in 2018 between 2011 and 2015 the number of long term leases increased from 3,590 to 6,830.
This would mean any change to the policy would have a huge effect on the lives of over three percent of the entire population.
Flanagan concluded his announcement by saying: “There is a bright future for this sector. We must continue to work with the farming community to address the challenges ahead and this policy contains a number of significant recommendations and charts a pathway forward.”
Charlie Flanagan has announced that he will not be running in the next general election and by effect, retiring.
Fine Gael will be tasked with retaining the seat by replacing Flanagan themselves and it will be up to Fine Gael members in Laois to choose their next candidate in the next general election.
Green Party candidate looks to the future for Portlaoise
The Green party candidate for Portlaoise Rosie Palmer has made a submission to the Portlaoise Area draft plan where she made a number of proposals to address a longer-term vision for the future.
A positive vision for the future to match the pace of growth of Portlaoise is a necessity according to Palmer.
Currently almost half the population of Portlaoise are under the age of 35.
Palmer believes that the makeup of councillors should reflect the age of the people they are representing but is surprised that she is the only candidate under the age of 35.
She said: “I’ve been out in the area meeting people for over a year now and the same issues are coming up day in and day out; the lack of homes, school places, healthcare, services and amenities in the town to match the growing demand.”
There are no places available in mainstream schools in Portlaoise – with the exception of the Gaelscoil and Palmer believes this a signal of a crisis.
She said: “When planning housing developments, for example, there should be engagement with the Education Welfare Support service, local school Boards, the transport section of the Department of Education and Bus Éireann, to ensure that future families are catered for.”
According to the Green Party there are 200 children being bussed to schools outside the towns at present.
Palmer stated: “This is far from ideal with a knock-on effect for family and community life and from a sustainability and climate action perspective”.
She is sure that her submissions will improve the problems regarding the lack of homes, school places, healthcare, services in the town.
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