Next Council must play a more active role in the community says Lola Gonzalez

Lola Gonzalez, the Social Democrats candidate for the Carrick-on-Shannon LEA, has said her experiences on the doorstep have shown that the County Council must take a more direct and active approach to the communities it serves.

“A number of important issues have come up time and time again," she said. 

“Vacant buildings blight our towns while demand for affordable housing and emergency accommodation hits record highs. Meanwhile, people have indicated to me that the council is neglecting its duties in estates it has taken charge of and in the maintenance of the houses it already owns.”

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Ms Gonzalez believes that the council needs a dedicated vacant housing officer to ensure these are put to use as soon as possible, and a more tenant and resident focused approach to housing more generally.

“More investment in road safety and the Local Link is badly needed”, she added. “Not just to meet the needs of the people, but the needs of our climate. We should also plan to have waste management return to council control within the next decade."

“The future we want for Leitrim is a county of growing communities, where everyone has access to the services they require, and where our children can imagine a future for themselves-not just in Carrick but in Dromod, Jamestown, Mohill, Leitrim and all the other little towns that give the county its character.

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"We must ensure that it's not only Carrick that benefits from the great potential Leitrim has."