New Labour representative announced during Labour leader Bacik’s visit to Leitrim

Labour Party Leader, Ivana Bacik recently visited a number of towns and villages across the Sligo-Leitrim constituency, focusing on the struggles being faced by individuals and families in the region.

She introduced local resident, Bernie Linnane, as Labour's new Local Area Representative for the Manorhamilton Electoral Area.

She travelled to the area from Dublin by train, arriving in to Collooney station from where she travelled to the Leitrim village of Dromahair, before concluding the visit with a number of appointments in Sligo Town.

Childcare is a topic that Deputy Bacik has highlighted on many occasions both before and since her election to the Dail in 2021, and she was able to see at first hand the work done by the educators and children who attend the community settings in Dromahair, Lifestart and the Springboard project in Sligo Town.

Deputy Bacik said “Health, Housing and Childcare are the three big issues around the country and the constituency. This evening we will be holding a listening meeting at the Clayton Hotel in Sligo and these are the issues that people are bringing to us at these meetings, wherever they are held.

“I always like, on these tours around Ireland, to visit childcare and early years facilities. A huge priority for us in Labour is pushing for a universal, fully accessible, public childcare system. An equal Early Years start, equivalent to primary school places.

“A guaranteed, state-funded, free pre-school place.
“What we're hearing all around, what we heard in Dromahair, and what we heard in Sligo was the huge difficulties providers are having in recruiting and retaining staff, given the low-pay and beauraucracy in the sector.”

While in Dromahair, Deputy Bacik also introduced local resident, Bernie Linnane saying “Bernie is a great advocate for equality, and especially for women's rights.
“With only three women amongst 18 councillors in both Leitrim and Sligo County Councils, both bodies are failing to hear women's voices. Both Sligo and Leitrim County Council need more women's voices. Both Sligo and Leitrim County Councils need more Labour voices.”

She added “We are seeking to grow and build for support for Labour in Sligo and Leitrim. We have two wonderful Local Area Reps in Nessa Cosgrove in Sligo and Bernie Linnane in Leitrim. We are a Green-Red environmentalist-socialist party and we see that there is a huge appetite for change in the North-West.

Throughout March we are seeking to recruit new members, particularly women, through our 'Sign up a Sister' campaign.”
Representative Linnane commented “I am proud to have been selected by the Labour Party act as a Local Area Representative, and I can confirm that, pending a selection process by the local party, it is my intention to stand for election at the forthcoming local elections."

“The two recent referenda have shown that there is an appetite for change amongst the voters of Leitrim. There is an appetite for an alternative vision, there is an appetite for a fairer, more equal society. I would be honoured to stand for that equal society, to stand for that vision and to stand for change."

Nessa Cosgrove, the Sligo based spokesperson added “We have seen first hand today the vital work being carried out by community organisations. The Early Years Services at Dromahair and Lifestart meeting the needs of children and families, along with the team at Sligo Springboard who work alongside families, who sometimes have quite complex needs.

“ I would especially like to thank the children at Sligo Springboard from whom we received such a warm welcome.”
“We met with management, staff and unions at Sligo University Hospital and heard all about the challenges being faced by those working in Healthcare."

“Finally, we attended a lively Town Hall style meeting in the Clayton Hotel. This was a listening exercise and Ivana came away with lots of material which will help to inform our manifesto and policies as we face into the next elections."

Concluding, the youth worker said: “Accompanying the Leader of the Labour Party, I was proud to see the work that our health, community and voluntary sector workers are engaged in. Not for profit, and often in very difficult circumstances, but for the benefit of the people living in our communities.

“We, in the Labour Party, will always stand alongside those workers and speak out on their behalf so that they can continue to serve the needs of our communities.”