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

Mr. G · 07-03-2014 12:55am #1

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.

Mc Love · 07-03-2014 4:26pm

I know there is a new animal welfare bill being introduced but there should be stiffer penalties for people that mistreat animals/pets. probably not so much a local issue but its a good place to start.

I'd also like to have a pooper/scooper system in place. they have the same scheme in Dingle, Co.kerry where there are bins dotted around the town/village with bags available and the bin underneath.

There are at present no bins in the Raheen/Dooradoyle area which is shocking!

DBIreland · 07-03-2014 7:02pm

Broadband and water for me. Living in deepest darkest county Limerick, broadband is almost non-existant and the water is so hard you could trot a mouse across it!

ABlur · 07-03-2014 8:53pm

The playground for Mungret/Raheen that was to be ready at the last local elections still waiting.....

flutered · 08-03-2014 6:17pm

i guess a repeat of some years back, the politicos could not walk up the borheen as it was impossible to do so without wellies, they will again spae themselves (some) a lot of gief

ShatterProof · 09-03-2014 8:45am

ABlur wrote: »

The playground for Mungret/Raheen that was to be ready at the last local elections still waiting.....

That's now going into Mungret college with the 3 schools. All very convienently announced recently.

Beaver1 · 10-03-2014 1:51am

Mc Love wrote: »

I know there is a new animal welfare bill being introduced but there should be stiffer penalties for people that mistreat animals/pets. probably not so much a local issue but its a good place to start.

I'd also like to have a pooper/scooper system in place. they have the same scheme in Dingle, Co.kerry where there are bins dotted around the town/village with bags available and the bin underneath.

There are at present no bins in the Raheen/Dooradoyle area which is shocking!

serious, the country is on it knees, and your worried about animals ****ting all over the place, aaahhhh ffs Lads

Mc Love · 10-03-2014 3:17pm

Beaver1 wrote: »

serious, the country is on it knees, and your worried about animals ****ting all over the place, aaahhhh ffs Lads

Unless you are talking about 2 years ago, how is the country on its knees?!

Poxyshamrock · 12-03-2014 11:19pm

Beaver1 wrote: »

serious, the country is on it knees, and your worried about animals ****ting all over the place, aaahhhh ffs Lads

There's not much local councillors can do about the county being on its knees. They can easily get dog waste facilities.

Beaver1 · 13-03-2014 2:38am

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

There's not much local councillors can do about the county being on its knees. They can easily get dog waste facilities.

if they can then why haven't they got them already. why wait til after an election to get them !!!!!!!.

Poxyshamrock · 19-03-2014 11:35pm

Limerick Chamber wants us to ask our local candidates to commit to restoring the exit from M7/M20 to the Childers Road in Roxboro. I'm not sure how much they can do on a local level though.

Limerick Chamber has today (18/03/14) called on local election candidates to commit to improved connectivity as part of their pre-election campaigns and prioritise the delivery of a reinstated interchange at Roxboro.

The Southern ring road in Limerick, which is part of the national road network of inter-urban connectivity, has no direct access to the City Centre. Limerick Chamber believe that the reinstatement of an interchange at Roxboro, which would enable direct access to the city from Dublin (M7) and Adare/ Cork (N20) directions, is a critical void in Limerick’s road infrastructure.

“While the ultimate decision on this lies with the NRA, our elected representatives play a critical role in lobbying for the prioritisation of the delivery of this interchange. The current structure, which diverts traffic inward to the city along residential areas such as Rosbrien, or clogged arteries such as the Tipperary road, is a barrier to enhancing the engagement of those living in the hinterland with our city, and is increasing the costs of doing business” commented Limerick Chamber economist Órlaith Borthwick.

“Local councillors play a key role representing the voice of their constituents at local and national government level. They also play a critical role in ensuring the right infrastructure is in place to enable their constituents – both residents and businesses – to connect, both with each other and beyond.

As a business representative organisation Limerick Chamber recognises the key importance of cost minimisation and time saving for all businesses. It is critical that customers and suppliers can access businesses and our city centre, in a clear and direct manner.

Limerick Chamber is calling on all local election candidates to commit to prioritising the delivery of this key piece of infrastructure in their pre-election campaigns” concluded Dr. Borthwick

Mc Love · 20-03-2014 10:25am

Yes that link should be reestablished, also the current exit from the m7 to the m20 should be extended to the exit to Dooradoyle so that you don't need to join the m20

juneg · 22-03-2014 11:24am

A new secondary school for Dooradoyle, Raheen areas.

Although land has been acquired it is the 2 small relocating primary schools that are to be prioritised ( gaelscoil and Educate Together) and the talk of a secondary school is just that.....TALK.... There are no plans and nothing in place more than a promise on the doorsteps...

Parents with children in primary schools now should be very very worried about where their child is going to go to secondary school. Unless you have an actual right of entry somewhere it is difficult.

All the usual schools are filling up with siblings and right of entry candidates leaving very few places for new families to squeeze in. Under the current system if you do not get your number 1 choice of school then the other schools of your 2nd ,3rd,4th choice will have filled up on their own first preferences. This leaves your child getting the schools of their least preference or none at all. Bear in mind that pupils from all the city primary schools and neighbouring county schools in Co. Limerick and Co. Clare are applying for the same places.

It is getting worse each year as the numbers increase so stories of how families got on in the system a few years ago are now irrelevant

gaf1983 · 01-04-2014 11:38am

Has anyone come across a list of all the candidates running in the Local Elections in Limerick? The local media are drip-feeding interviews with ones these days, but I haven't come across a list anywhere.

cailleach an airgid · 03-04-2014 3:27pm

I think there's some excellent things going on in Limerick this year; after a shaky start the Limerick City of Culture is making this a really fun place to be this year.

I'd like to get some sense from the candidates how they intend to capitalise on this burst of activity into the future. The City of Culture moniker has basically served as a platform for the all the existing talent, creativity and energy in the city to stand up and be noticed. Our council needs to carefully plan so that all of the positives arising from the city of culture can be sustained into the future.

panda100 · 07-04-2014 7:58pm

I am so apathetic towards local and national politics tbh that if a canvasser called to my door I would just close the door in their face. I am so sick of lies and political bulls**t that I couldn't even listen to one speak. There is so much I think we need to change about Irish society but I really don't think anything will be achieved by the gombeen idiots running for local or European elections.

So the answer to the question is that I will raise absolutely nothing with candidates on my door, except for showing my compete indifference to them by shutting the door in their face.

Beaver1 · 08-04-2014 12:33am

cailleach an airgid wrote: »

I think there's some excellent things going on in Limerick this year; after a shaky start the Limerick City of Culture is making this a really fun place to be this year.

I'd like to get some sense from the candidates how they intend to capitalise on this burst of activity into the future. The City of Culture moniker has basically served as a platform for the all the existing talent, creativity and energy in the city to stand up and be noticed. Our council needs to carefully plan so that all of the positives arising from the city of culture can be sustained into the future.

cant understand why you would do that, you are doing them a favour, why not open the door and ask them the hard questions, let them know you are not happy, you might as well put a poster on your window and give them the hint all together and they will say move on not vote here, as I said, ask them the hard questions and make them they give you the answer

Parchment · 08-04-2014 8:06am

Dog poop & its abundance on the foot paths. Seriously. This needs to be sorted out - i understand dog owners need to take responsibility but as with all things in life there needs to be a tangible consequence for them if they dont.

wexfordman2 · 08-04-2014 8:12am

I'm gonna ask them how they feel about the fact that I hold them accountable for their parties actions in the Dail and if they are happy that they are going to lose a seat over it.

I'm not gonna bother beyond that too much, just making sure I vote independent and kick every political party in this **** hole a locknut the are that the deserve

Mc Love · 09-04-2014 2:16am

Parchment wrote: »

Dog poop & its abundance on the foot paths. Seriously. This needs to be sorted out - i understand dog owners need to take responsibility but as with all things in life there needs to be a tangible consequence for them if they dont.

Already pointed that out, there are no bins to dump the poop in. See a few more bins about the place would help

the_blackstuff · 09-04-2014 9:20pm

Mc Love wrote: »

Already pointed that out, there are no bins to dump the poop in. See a few more bins about the place would help

If you go into the park in Castletroy the council have bags provided, bins every 200 meters or so and the amount of dog poop visible around the edges of the path is crazy. They really need to get their act together and enforce their laws! I have said this to a couple of the people who called to my door.

Volk54 · 22-04-2014 10:45pm

If they come on behalf of FF, FG, Labor or SF I will be telling them in no uncertain terms that asking me for my #1 will be a waste of their time as I'm firmly behind the AAA/Socialist party

vkid · 23-04-2014 4:46pm

Volk54 wrote: »

If they come on behalf of FF, FG, Labor or SF I will be telling them in no uncertain terms that asking me for my #1 will be a waste of their time as I'm firmly behind the AAA/Socialist party

Voting independent, but agree with you. Anyone of the main parties can do one. Between FF, FG and Lab they have had enough go's at things and still made a balls of the country/city/county. Its time for something else imo.

Volk54 · 23-04-2014 11:40pm

vkid wrote: »

Voting independent, but agree with you. Anyone of the main parties can do one. Between FF, FG and Lab they have had enough go's at things and still made a balls of the country/city/county. Its time for something else imo.

I think that after 5 years of brutal cuts and crippling austerity that has impacted not only the young but the Elderly and the most impoverished members of society we deserve a change, the people need to get pissed off I mean it should have happened ages ago but now is as good a time as any.

I mean I'll be lucky to get a job at all this year never mind college to leave this government in power even locally would **** my prospects right up and at 23 going on 24 it's not a great thing to be faced with.

Poxyshamrock · 27-04-2014 5:48pm

So far I've only had the AAA come to my door who seem to be more concerned with what's going on in Leinster House.

The candidate didn't seem to have much interest in stuff like the state of the city centre without telling me that it's the governments fault.

Cartman78 · 28-04-2014 1:28pm

Do the AAA have any actual policies? or are they just opposed to everything?

Parchment · 28-04-2014 1:37pm

Cartman78 wrote: »

Do the AAA have any actual policies? or are they just opposed to everything?

I think thats it basically.

Insect Overlord · 28-04-2014 1:43pm

Cartman78 wrote: »

Do the AAA have any actual policies? or are they just opposed to everything?

Cian Prendiville is launching his campaign in the Horse & Hound tonight, so that could be a chance to find out more about what he has to say.

Wise Old Elf · 30-04-2014 11:31am

Haven't had one caller yet. There's one current Councillor who has appeared a couple of times over the last few years, but not a sign of the rest of them between elections. That's one thing I'll ask those who are current Councillors, where have you been since 2009.

It's been mentioned already, but I'll also be interested to know what their local plans are. No point in telling me you're opposed to austerity decisions in the Dáil when you're running for the Council.

irishproduce · 03-05-2014 1:22pm

What tangible things can the councillors do though?

jbkenn · 03-05-2014 3:12pm

irishproduce wrote: »

What tangible things can the councillors do though?

Not a lot, very little actually, Bock the Robber sums it up perfectly here.
http://bocktherobber.com/2014/03/local-elections-2014-what-powers-do-local-councillors-have/

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

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