VOTE
NO.1
​​
What future do you want for Carlow and Kilkenny?
My vision is for a fairer, kinder, more inclusive society with thriving regional cities, towns and villages, robust rural economies underpinned by healthy nature, clean water and resilient landscapes and a brighter future for our children and young people. This can be our future here in Carlow-Kilkenny and if you trust me with your vote on November 29th, I'll keep building on my record of delivery for our communities, our counties and our country.
What I've done as your TD
-
Through my work as a Minister in the Department of Housing, local authorities in Carlow and Kilkenny have received record funding to deliver public, social and cost rental housing and the infrastructure that supports it. Commencements of new homes are up 85% in Kilkenny and 30% in Carlow under this Government compared to the previous five years.
​
-
The Troyswood Drinking Water Treatment plant has improved water supply and water quality for the people of Kilkenny. This is something I’ve campaigned for over many years and I was proud to officially open it on behalf of Uisce Éireann. Everyone deserves clean, healthy drinking water.
​
-
Carlow’s new urban bus service is now in place and a new late train service is operational for Carlow and Kilkenny. I’ve long prioritised integrated, sustainable transport and was delighted to deliver these projects in partnership with the Minister for Transport.
​
-
Important historic buildings and national monuments across Carlow and Kilkenny have been conserved thanks to the hugely effective heritage grant schemes that I’ve led as Minister for Heritage. This work has also supported tradespeople working in traditional skills.
​
-
I have delivered two new Biodiversity Officers for Carlow and Kilkenny and a Local Biodiversity Action Fund that has supported communities to deliver biodiversity projects from barn owl surveys to wildlife ponds and tree planting.
​
-
The Veterinary College for SETU and Kildalton Agricultural College is now secured, a vitally important new initiative that I strongly supported and worked with Oireachtas members across the South East to deliver for the region.
​
-
Carlow’s ‘Project 2040’ is now in place, bringing a long-term plan to reinvigorate Carlow town. It is very much supported by the Town Centres First policy that I led on and, through my work as Minister in the Department of Housing, I’ve delivered significant funding to help its implementation.
​
-
The Northern Ring Road extension is vital for Kilkenny city and county. I’ve continued to advocate for it and I’m supporting Kilkenny County Council to move it to the next stage through close collaboration with the Minister for Transport.
​
-
Kilkenny has a new Nature Reserve, its fifth, and the first one in the north of the County. Gale’s Hill near Gathabawn is 165 acres of beautiful, wild meadows with huge ecological value. Ballykeeffe Wood Nature Reserve, meanwhile, is benefitting from upgraded car and bicycle parking.
What I hope to do
over the next Dáil term
-
I’ll continue to deliver more housing of all types, in the right places and connected to services.This means building more social, affordable and cost rental homes, as well as investing in schemes that support first time buyers and enable the renovation of vacant properties, especially in our historic town centres.
​
-
I’ve always advocated for better public transport, active travel and ways to keep HGVs out of our town centres. I’ll continue to campaign for the final phase of the Kilkenny Ring Road and extension of MacDonagh Station. I’ll also push for rural and urban public transport services to be better connected, and for safer cycling and walking routes.
​
-
It’s not right that people in rural areas have to pay to get their drinking water tested. I’ll work to introduce free well water testing for rural homes and make the grant system better resourced and easier to use, both for drinking water systems and for septic tank repairs.
​
-
I’ve been a part of Kilkenny’s arts community all my life and I’m committed to supporting the creativity in our region. I will work to maintain Kilkenny and Carlow’s position as national hubs for craft and good design.
​
-
As Minister for Nature, I had a central role in establishing the €3.15bn Climate and Nature Fund. I’ll ensure it’s put to the best possible use for Carlow and Kilkenny to address flooding, support farmers and landowners to restore nature and improve water quality in our rivers. This will also help to retain the Nitrates Derogation.
​
-
Women and children experiencing domestic and gender-based violence must have access to compassionate, non-judgemental support and refuge. I’ll work with colleagues across the Oireachtas and at local level to support the delivery of a Women’s Refuge for Carlow and to ensure adequate funding for Amber Women’s Refuge in Kilkenny.
​
-
As Heritage Minister, I’ve been at the forefront of efforts to regenerate our towns and villages. I’ll put my extensive experience to use for Carlow and Kilkenny to support heritage-led regeneration and unlock the potential for housing in our older buildings. I’ll also work to develop a County Museum for Kilkenny.
​
-
New communities, minorities and Travellers bring great richness and diversity to Irish society. They should feel safe, welcomed and included. I am committed to ensuring that services in Carlow and Kilkenny support the integration of people from around the world who want to settle here and become part of our community.
What I've done as Minister
For Heritage...
-
I reinvigorated the Heritage portfolio with significant resources for our National Built Heritage Service and National Monuments Service over five successive budgets. I increased funding for Heritage overall by 140% from €70m to €170m.
​
-
This included growing the Heritage Council’s funding from €7.5m to almost €20m and more than doubling the value of key grant schemes such as the Historic Structures Fund, Community Monuments Fund and Built Heritage Investment Scheme, which support communities to conserve historic structures, traditional shopfronts and national monuments.
​​
-
I also enacted a groundbreaking new Historic and Archaeological Heritage Act, the most comprehensive piece of legislation to protect our archaeological heritage on land and at sea in the history of the State.
For Nature...
-
I led a transformative agenda for nature in Ireland. I took a leadership role in Europe to pass the Nature Restoration Law - a vital new piece of legislation that will benefit nature, support farmers and fishers, improve water quality, alleviate floods, and increase green spaces in our towns and cities.
​
-
I created the first new National Parks in Ireland for 25 years - Brú na Bóinne and Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí - and invested heavily in projects to save iconic Irish species like the Hen Harrier, Curlew, Corncrake and Natterjack toad from extinction, and to re-introduce White tailed Eagles and Ospreys to Irish skies.
​
-
I increased protected areas on our seas from 2.4% to almost 10%.
​
-
I delivered a national Water Action Plan to improve water quality in Ireland’s rivers, lakes and estuaries and remove river barriers to help migrating species like salmon.
​
-
I initiated the world’s first Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, expanded the National Biodiversity Officers Programme and re-energised the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) with a Strategic Plan and increased funding.
For our Democracy...
-
I legislated for the creation of Ireland’s first independent Electoral Commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, to oversee electoral events, ensure transparency and safety in politics and to encourage more women and people from diverse backgrounds to get involved in our political system.
​
-
My work saw the modernisation of the electoral register, with CheckTheRegister.ie established as a single portal for citizens to register to vote and for 16 and 17 year olds to pre-register to vote ahead of turning 18.
​
-
I also tasked the new Electoral Commission to research and provide advice on the use of election posters, on tackling misinformation and disinformation, on strengthening local government and on increasing participation in election events.
What the Greens have done in Government
-
Delivered a Climate Action Plan to reduce carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050
​​
-
Halved childcare costs, expanded the number of childcare places and doubled investment in early years
​​
-
Invested more than ever to transform public transport, reduced fares by 20% for everyone and a further 50% for 19-25 year olds
​​
-
Made ‘Cost Rental’ - long-term, affordable homes for people on middle incomes - a cornerstone of Irish housing policy​
-
​​Helped parents with free schoolbooks up to Leaving Cert, free school meals for all primary schools, and free public transport for under-9s
​​​
-
Made contraception free up to age 35 and made Hormone Replacement Therapy free as well
​​​
-
Ramped up offshore wind to help us achieve our target of 80% renewables in our electricity mix by 2030
​​​
-
Introduced Basic Income for the Arts to help stabilise the earnings of people in the arts and creative sectors
​​​
-
Prioritised warmer, more energy efficient homes through a new national retrofit programme
