Local Elections 2014: What issues will you be raising with candidates on the door?

The Hill Billy

With local elections in May, what questions will you be asking canvassers when they come calling to your door?

With household charges, water metering, flood defence and planning dominating the news over the past year, the forthcoming local elections are set to be a lively affair.

So if a candidate came knocking at your door tomorrow what would you ask them? What issues affect you and yours on a daily basis? What would you like to see changed or introduced? How satisfied are you with the current crowd and what would you like to see changed tomorrow? Do local politics even matter and how should a candidate justify themselves to the electorate?

This thread is intended to raise issues that are important to you, so hopefully local candidates can take notice. Also this thread is to have no canvassing by candidates or party representatives, and any such actions will not be allowed.

We at Boards.ie will be getting in touch with as many candidates as we can, and the aim will be for them to come onto Boards to explain their policies, and to answer the questions that you the posters have posed in this threads. When that time comes we aim to use seperate threads for the candidates so that those threads can be answer and policy specific.

Finally & importantly, we would like this thread to focus on the issues that matter to you & be able to provide the candidates with a clear list of local issues as seen by local posters. If you wish to debate the issues raised - we will create a separate thread.

sidcon

The Hill Billy wrote: »

With local elections in May, what questions will you be asking canvassers when they come calling to your door?

With household charges, water metering, flood defence and planning dominating the news over the past year, the forthcoming local elections are set to be a lively affair.

So if a candidate came knocking at your door tomorrow what would you ask them? What issues affect you and yours on a daily basis? What would you like to see changed or introduced? How satisfied are you with the current crowd and what would you like to see changed tomorrow? Do local politics even matter and how should a candidate justify themselves to the electorate?

This thread is intended to raise issues that are important to you, so hopefully local candidates can take notice. Also this thread is to have no canvassing by candidates or party representatives, and any such actions will not be allowed.

We at Boards.ie will be getting in touch with as many candidates as we can, and the aim will be for them to come onto Boards to explain their policies, and to answer the questions that you the posters have posed in this threads. When that time comes we aim to use seperate threads for the candidates so that those threads can be answer and policy specific.

Finally & importantly, we would like this thread to focus on the issues that matter to you & be able to provide the candidates with a clear list of local issues as seen by local posters. If you wish to debate the issues raised - we will create a separate thread.

Why are you knocking on my door? If you were any good you would be already known by myself and I would know what your policies are.

The Hill Billy

Thanks, but we are really looking for questions about local issues that we can put forward to candidates when we offer them the opportunity to join us in this forum.

tHB

martinn123

Is Metro North ever to proceed, I accept we are in a Financially Constrained situation, but what timescale, if any is envisaged.

With Giant Sewerage plant going to Balgriffin, what chance those of us in rural areas, but close to say Lusk village getting a sewerage line, as outlined in a previous Development plan.

With the plans for the Giant dump at the Nevitt, shelved, what are the Plans for the land purchased, local landowners are now farming what was their own land, having pocketed the purchase price, and I hope they are paying rent.

What are the plans, if any, to get rid of the Giant Shyte holding tanks beside the Lusk Ringroad, and pipe it to a treatment Plant, in the meantime, how many more houses will feed into these a Tanks.

martinn123

How many acres of Residential Zoned land, is there in Fingal, under NAMA control.
what plans if any are there to sell, or develop these land parcels.

Any plans to extend Dart, to Balbriggan, or Skerries.

Finally, any chance you could fix the potholes on my lane.

shamu2new

When will Lusk get a police station which its own vehicles so they can actually respond to calls, and when will the garda resources for the north county be increased.

What do they plan to do to deal with gangs of youths in Lusk village every night terrorising residents out of their homes, smashing windows, throwing bricks, setting fires? What is their policy on juvenile delinquency - gardai are powerless.

What is their policy on getting money back into the economy when we have no disposable income left to spend after all the recent stealth taxes.

When will facilities for young people be put into Lusk to take them off the streets eg community centre?

alexanderomahon

Sort out the road up to St Maur's GAA in Rush. It is dangerous and should have been sorted years ago.

dcr22B

When will FCC be in a position to take my estate in charge considering they've recently taken a larger estate in my village (Lusk) in charge yet all FCC seem to be interested in is pointing out the water leaks in the pipes beneath our estate which we will have to use our mgmt fees to pay.

Remind me again why I am paying LPT?

Dizzyblonde

I'll be asking:

*What will you do to revitalise Swords Main Street and develop the castle?

*What will you do about the severe coastal erosion of our beaches in Fingal? Portmarnock in particular has been destroyed during the past 2 winters.

*Where do you stand on the issue of Metro North?

sillyoulfool

shamu2new wrote: »

When will Lusk get a police station which its own vehicles so they can actually respond to calls, and when will the garda resources for the north county be increased.

What do they plan to do to deal with gangs of youths in Lusk village every night terrorising residents out of their homes, smashing windows, throwing bricks, setting fires? What is their policy on juvenile delinquency - gardai are powerless.

What is their policy on getting money back into the economy when we have no disposable income left to spend after all the recent stealth taxes.

When will facilities for young people be put into Lusk to take them off the streets eg community centre?

In Fairness, local Councillors have no power over the most of the above issues, any candidate that tells you that if they are elected they :
A) Get a Garda Station opened.
Get increased Garda resources allocated, or
C) Having taxation reduced is lying to you.

In many ways this why the local elections are a waste, because candidates campaign on populist policies that local councils do not have the power to deliver on.

sillyoulfool

I will be looking for commitments on ensuring the waste of money known as Metro North is never built or if it is that FCC does not contribute a red cent to it.

Provision of more and better play and youth facilities in the sprawling housing estate areas developed over the last 10 years or so.

Better facilities and more services on the beach in Balbriggan.

Better upkeep of the recreational areas, grass cutting, road sweeping.

Designated liaison personnel between residents committees and FCC so that communities are assisted and encouraged to develop.

An explanation as to what happened to all the development levies received by FCC over the last 10 to 15 years.

An undertaking that would be councillors will not be partaking of useless junkets with our money if they are elected.

martinn123

sillyoulfool wrote: »

An explanation as to what happened to all the development levies received by FCC over the last 10 to 15 years.

An undertaking that would be councillors will not be partaking of useless junkets with our money if they are elected.

A Big Ugly building on Main St Swords. ( beside the Star)

Consultants Fees, and land purchase, for a Dump at The Nevitt, which never proceeded.

Oh and a few useless junkets.:P

Khannie

Property tax is the biggy for me.
Oh, and the Skerries Garda station being under manned. It's never open at peak nonsense hours (i.e. Friday and Saturday night).

RobFowl

Fingal county councils stance on sporting events on the open roads (cycle races and triathlons mostly) is a big issue to me. They are the only local authority actively blocking events at the moment (grass roots events).

expectationlost

alot of fine gael and labour candidates boasting about how they'll reduce the property tax by up to 15%

but we've 100% more property tax since last election

so we're suposed to be impressed that they are going to charge us for €85 instead of €100

thanks candidate

martinn123

expectationlost wrote: »

alot of fine gael and labour candidates boasting about how they'll reduce the property tax by up to 15%

but we've 100% more property tax since last election

so we're suposed to be impressed that they are going to charge us for €85 instead of €100

thanks candidate

Don't fall for that one.

http://www.thejournal.ie/gilmore-property-tax-cut-1295812-Feb2014/

This year, 80 per cent of the money collected through the tax is supposed to be retained by local authorities to fund services.

Not Gonna Happen.

From next year, councillors have the power to reduce or increase the property tax in their area by up to 15%.

Earlier, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said he would support the idea of a cut to property tax.

But he added that any cut in tax would have to be matched by a cut to spending.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0202/501754-property-tax/

So ask any Candidates who ''Promise '' this Cut, how they expect to balance the Budget, i.e where will the cuts be.

sillyoulfool

Had a leaflet from Tony Murphy this morning.
Load of old rubbish, he appears to be a single issue candidate standing on the issue of water quality and water charges, neither of which will be in the remit of the next Fingal CC, so effectively he standing on the promise to do nothing, because there will be nothing he can do.

micraX

martinn123 wrote: »

Is Metro North ever to proceed, I accept we are in a Financially Constrained situation, but what timescale, if any is envisaged.

With Giant Sewerage plant going to Balgriffin, what chance those of us in rural areas, but close to say Lusk village getting a sewerage line, as outlined in a previous Development plan.

With the plans for the Giant dump at the Nevitt, shelved, what are the Plans for the land purchased, local landowners are now farming what was their own land, having pocketed the purchase price, and I hope they are paying rent.

What are the plans, if any, to get rid of the Giant Shyte holding tanks beside the Lusk Ringroad, and pipe it to a treatment Plant, in the meantime, how many more houses will feed into these a Tanks.

Clonshaugh not balgriffin, they are in the process of connecting Lusk village to the sewage, a pipeline to portrane was completed a few years ago, it stops just at that new exercise equipment on the by pass, they had to wait till the soccer club moved as the pipe from Lusk village is going across the old pitch. Then it's joining the pipe to portrane along with the chaple farm tanks, then they are being removed.


What makes you think the farmers wouldn't be paying rent? The original owners might have got the land back, in some developments theres a clause that if plans change or nothing is done with in so many years you get land back.

The Hill Billy

As stated in the OP, please keep this thread for questions for candidates. If you wish to discuss topics raised - start a new thread.

tHB

martinn123

micraX wrote: »

What makes you think the farmers wouldn't be paying rent? The original owners might have got the land back, in some developments theres a clause that if plans change or nothing is done with in so many years you get land back.

Paying, how much, relative to the price FCC paid originally.

micraX

martinn123 wrote: »

Paying, how much, relative to the price FCC paid originally.

Rent paid for farm land is nothing todo with how much the land was purchased for..

I would ask why did the council burn off and rotavate the roundabouts on the r132/n1 the same week they got the new bit in the middle of the lizzenhall interchange landscaped. A bit stupid when they done the opposite atctge others.

Washbuckler

I would ask a certain independent candidate in balbriggan why they have their posters up long before they are allowed to (April 23rd). If they don't know or are just ignoring the rules, they shouldn't be running.

sillyoulfool

I would like to ask Tony Murphy how he can claim that he will challenge FCC over water quality in Balbriggan and over water charges when neither of these are to be within the power of FCC anymore, they will be in the sole remit of Irish Water.

pinkypinky

Since no candidate has ever canvased my apartment block in 7 years living in my current location....Main issues for me:

Redevelopment of Swords Main St
Metro North (or substitute)
Better upkeep of roads, grass verges
Airside - planning disaster about to get worse when they build the (unnecessary) large supermarket between it and Holywell.
Water charges - fair rates for flat usage in apartments - though I don't think Fingal has any say in this.
How they voted in the mayor for Dublin fiasco (I know I can check these results but I'd like a face to face discussion).

Carter12

Why is a certain candidate knocking on doors saying he has disassociated (sp) himself from the Labour party, yet he is still on the Labour party website ?

ye wont be getting my vote !!!

martinn123

Carter12 wrote: »

Why is a certain candidate knocking on doors saying he has disassociated (sp) himself from the Labour party, yet he is still on the Labour party website ?

ye wont be getting my vote !!!

I presume you can name individual candidates on this thread, as it's related to the Elections, if so, to whom are you referring.

Carter12

Ken Farrell

He said that to my partner last night at the door

Dizzyblonde

Let's keep this thread for questions we want to raise with candidates. Hopefully we'll get some to address the issues raised.

For discussion, see the "How Are Your Local Reps" thread - or start a new one.

sdanseo

Granted I don't own a property, but even if I did I wouldn't be asking councillors about property tax - it's a national issue, the same for everyone. At least with garda stations they can make representation to the council in relation to it, but the LPT applies to every landowner in the state pretty much, no councillor is going to be able to change it.

As for things I would ask about, I'd start with a few gems:

a. whether they'd be in favour of reversing the stupid decision made not to vote in favour of a directly elected mayor (fingal mayors have no power and are a useless, president-like position of no significance)

b. Pedestrian crossings - would they vote to ban them completely where there is a suitable junction within 300m, and that new crossings should not be placed anywhere near roundabouts or have a red light function, but instead be zebra crossing type with enforcement for moron drivers who don't understand what this means

expectationlost

a question for councillors. what is the purpose of burgalar alarms going off for more then 2 minutes? either they are attended to or not. there is no purpose to them going off for another 13 minutes

this is the advice given if you want to complain you have to take court case? http://www.fingalcoco.ie/environment/clean-community/noise-pollution/ but how do you take court case about alarms that you don't know where they are coming from, are you supposed to go wandering around every time a alarm goes off? trying to find the building/alarm? even at night? through industrial estates?

cowzerp

I'll be meeting them at the door and asking them with camera in hand
1. do they support household charges
2. do they support water metering
3. do they support mass medication with Fluoride without consent.

martinn123

cowzerp wrote: »

I'll be meeting them at the door and asking them with camera in hand
1. do they support household charges

If they are from the Soc. Party, ask them if they have PAID their Household Charge.

LeoB

Firstly I have recently joined a political party but will be asking anyone who calls at my door.

1) What plans do they have to challenge anti-social behaviour. Enforce by-laws already there.
2) What will they do about people housed by F.C.C in private rented accommodation who make life hell for neighbours and then proceed to wreck the house, create a mess and then get rehoused elsewhere.
3) Will they push for the council to have something done about derelict sites along Main street.
4) Would they support a Fingal coastal walk and would they propose it starts in Rush? The Viking trail. Few good walks along Sutton/Howth yet we have a brilliant coastal walk opportunity From Rogerstown to Loughshinny and on to Skerries. Reason I say start in Rush is I and any other local I have spoken to believe Rush has been totally overlooked and neglected.
5) Why was there no record of my call made to Gardai when I followed up my complaint 3 days after the event? Is this how crime figures are calculated (massaged)

Sadly even though I joined a party I am not sure what they can really do. Until Fingal gets its budget and a few pet projects are undertaken it will only be guess work as to how much they will have to spend. But fully agree with previous poster whether they will lobby for more resources for Gardái and emergency services

sdanseo

cowzerp wrote: »

I'll be meeting them at the door and asking them with camera in hand
1. do they support household charges
2. do they support water metering
3. do they support mass medication with Fluoride without consent.

All of which are now central government decisions and cannot be influenced by councilors.

I really wish people would at least attempt to understand how local government works before voting for it.

LeoB

sdeire wrote: »

All of which are now central government decisions and cannot be influenced by councilors.

I really wish people would at least attempt to understand how local government works before voting for it.

I think most do but I believe you can gauge from the response to the questions what you are getting into. Also if its a democratic party I am sure there is a procedure for councillors to forward the feedback they are getting.

I might ask to cover the above are you prepared to vote against the party on any issue

Hair Bear

Some posters in the town of Balbriggan are mounted very low. They are a danger to pedestrians on the footpath.
Also, some of these posters block a driver's view at junctions.
These should be removed by FCC immediately

Hair Bear

FCC and the government should have all political campaign posters removed for the duration of the Giro D'Italia. The images from the route will be beamed across the world. The last thing that's needed is to have the images of our beautiful countryside obliterated by these posters.

The government can bring in emergency legislation when it suits! Now its time for them to demonstrate their true interest in Ireland on the world stage.

micraX

Hair Bear wrote: »

Some posters in the town of Balbriggan are mounted very low. They are a danger to pedestrians on the footpath.
Also, some of these posters block a driver's view at junctions.
These should be removed by FCC immediately

They always put them just outside our farm yard gate and you cant see a thing. I just take them down.

midonogh

Hair Bear wrote: »

FCC and the government should have all political campaign posters removed for the duration of the Giro D'Italia. The images from the route will be beamed across the world. The last thing that's needed is to have the images of our beautiful countryside obliterated by these posters.

The government can bring in emergency legislation when it suits! Now its time for them to demonstrate their true interest in Ireland on the world stage.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27023219
That is the position in the North. It will be obvious from the TV pictures when the Giro passes into the South as suddenly the roads will be littered with numerous pictures of the same people! In the days of social media are these posters really needed?

expectationlost

could you explain in general the money going into and out of the budget for the next 5 years

Always number 1

Hair Bear wrote: »

FCC and the government should have all political campaign posters removed for the duration of the Giro D'Italia. The images from the route will be beamed across the world. The last thing that's needed is to have the images of our beautiful countryside obliterated by these posters.

The government can bring in emergency legislation when it suits! Now its time for them to demonstrate their true interest in Ireland on the world stage.

Cllrs and candidates have been requested to remove these for the duration of the event. Whether they do or not remains to be seen.

The big problem in Fingal is parochialism.
The candidates/Cllrs don't bother straying too far from their own area as they know that, for the most part, they have the votes sewn up. I live in Rush and the only candidates that have called to our door are from Rush. The issues that affect me do not concern the Cllrs/candidates from Lusk/Skerries so why should they waste their time with me?

Anyway, back on point, some of my concerns as a resident of Rush are:
- Roads/derelict sites Rush Main Street
- Issues with completion of our estate - taking in charge/site resolution plan with builder etc;
- Keeping facilities in Rush like the Post Office while not losing anything else.

LeoB

Always number 1 wrote: »

Cllrs and candidates have been requested to remove these for the duration of the event. Whether they do or not remains to be seen.

The big problem in Fingal is parochialism.
The candidates/Cllrs don't bother straying too far from their own area as they know that, for the most part, they have the votes sewn up. I live in Rush and the only candidates that have called to our door are from Rush. The issues that affect me do not concern the Cllrs/candidates from Lusk/Skerries so why should they waste their time with me?

Anyway, back on point, some of my concerns as a resident of Rush are:
- Roads/derelict sites Rush Main Street
- Issues with completion of our estate - taking in charge/site resolution plan with builder etc;
- Keeping facilities in Rush like the Post Office while not losing anything else.

You have every right to voice your opinion and if they are there for the good of ALL the people they would listen to you and act in fair and courteous manner.

However you have hit a nail on the head and its a huge feeling around Rush, What have cllrs really contributed to Rush, or have cllrs battled as hard for Rush as other areas and the answers I am hearing is nothing and No to these questions. SO ENSURE YOU GET OUT AND USE YOUR VOTE

Would agree fully with you on the issues you raise.

The Hill Billy

As stated in the OP this thread is for questions for candidates only.

Please start another thread if you wish to discuss the topics mentioned here.

tHB

Reformed Character

It is sad to note that not a single candidate chose to address any of the issues raised by posters.

Michael8000

upyores wrote: »

It is sad to note that not a single candidate chose to address any of the issues raised by posters.

How aware of the forum were the candidates made?

The Hill Billy

Boards HQ were contacting the candidates from the main parties to offer them the opportunity to post here. As far as I am aware, only one candidate officially engaged across the whole country.

tHB

martinn123

The Hill Billy wrote: »

Boards HQ were contacting the candidates from the main parties to offer them the opportunity to post here. As far as I am aware, only one candidate officially engaged across the whole country.

tHB

That's a great pity, as various topics were raised, I would have imagined Candidates would welcome ANY opportunity to communicate with the Electorate.

Anyway, not to waste a good Thread, perhaps we can keep this open, for a few weeks and track the removal of Posters, and help the Candidates ( successful or not ) return our streets to their previous state.

The Hill Billy

We can keep this open no problem. Why not start another thread about the posters? People can then send a link to the candidates, parties, litter warden (when the time comes ) for their removal.

tHB

Michael8000

The Hill Billy wrote: »

Boards HQ were contacting the candidates from the main parties to offer them the opportunity to post here. As far as I am aware, only one candidate officially engaged across the whole country.

tHB

Just the main parties? I would have thought a platform such as this would have appealed more to the smaller parties and independents.

The Hill Billy

With some of the ballots counted the best polling candidates so far are...
Farrell (Lab)
Quinn (SF)
O'Connor (NP)
Murphy (NP)
Dennehy (FF)

Hat tip to JC for the info.

The Hill Billy

Michael8000 wrote: »

Just the main parties? I would have thought a platform such as this would have appealed more to the smaller parties and independents.

I'm not 100% sure of who exactly was contacted. But I'd imagine that to contact every single candidate would be a big ask for the small team in the office.