Clifford-Lee outlines priorities for general election campaign

Published on: 28 September 2015


Fianna Fáil’s new general election candidate in Dublin Fingal has highlighted exorbitant childcare costs and the escalating housing and rent crisis as the key issues that must be tackled in the upcoming budget.

The young mother, who lives with her husband John and daughter Kitty in Portmarnock, says she has decided to run for election because she feels that ordinary hard working families across north Dublin are being ignored by this government.

Lorraine will contest the upcoming general election on the Fianna Fáil ticket alongside Senator Darragh O’Brien.

“This is a hugely important election for North County Dublin. At the moment there are thousands of families in this area whose needs and challenges are being completely overlooked by Fine Gael and Labour. While the Government pats itself on the back talking up economic recovery, thousands of hard working families across North Dublin are still being strangled by mortgages, high interest rates, exorbitant rents, the most expensive childcare in Europe, property taxes on the brink of increase and water charges without water investment,” the Fianna Fáil candidate said.

“I see so many of my own friends and family struggle with these issues daily and they feel completely abandoned by the Government. People who can no longer afford their rent after successive hikes but can’t qualify for a mortgage, people paying huge mortgages on houses that are virtually worthless due to pyrite damage, people living in apartments or managed estates who are paying hefty management fees on top of the full whack of property tax, homeowners right across North County Dublin who are facing significant hikes in property taxes because values have increased but their ability to pay has not, and parents who are stuck in the impossible position of having to give up work because they can’t afford childcare.

“Meanwhile there has been virtually no investment in North County Dublin over the past number of years and local businesses have suffered as a result. The beautiful coastline that attracts many people to move here and brings the tourists to visit is suffering due to a lack of investment in maintaining the clean environment and surroundings. It is shame that not enough is being made of the natural amenities that North Dublin has.

“I very much look forward to working alongside the strong Fianna Fáil representatives here in Dublin Fingal, including Senator Darragh O’Brien and Cllrs Darragh Butler, Brian Dennehy, Adrian Henchy and Eoghan O’Brien. I know that together we can offer the people of this area a real alternative to the current arrogant and out of touch Government.”

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