Milford group employee Declan Meehan has introduced that he’ll contest subsequent yr’s native elections as an impartial candidate within the Milford Electoral Space.
Meehan final ran for a Donegal County Council seat in 2019. Since then, he has been working as Supervisor of Milford & District Useful resource Centre.
He mentioned the function has allowed him to attain and ship loads for the electoral space.
“I’m centered on supply for individuals and communities – that’s what drives me, and it’s why I need to run for Council,” Meehan mentioned. “Since 2019 I’ve secured nearly €1.8 million in funding for the native space, together with €900,000 for capital initiatives. That’s with out being a Councillor. I take nice pleasure working in group growth – each professionally and voluntarily. It permits me to ship actual outcomes for the area people, making a tangible distinction within the space. I’m pleased with my document over the previous 4 years, and I need to construct on that for the following 5 years as a Councillor – for all the electoral space.”
Meehan can be Chairperson of Ray Group Centre and has been since 2020. He’s additionally a Director of Donegal Native Improvement Firm and Chairperson of the Swilly-Mulroy Group Well being Discussion board. Over the previous 4 years Meehan has secured funding for – and led out on – initiatives resembling the brand new Astro pitch, group backyard and outside play space in Ray; the Milford Streetscape Enhancement Initiative; the City Centre First Plan in Milford; and the Swilly-Mulroy Group Mobility Bus. He led the efforts to safe a constructing for a brand new group centre in Milford, by working with the Reformed Presbyterian Congregation who gifted their former constructing to MDRC.
“I’ve demonstrated that I’m an efficient campaigner, advocate and lobbyist for the native space by securing funding for important initiatives” Meehan mentioned. “I imagine individuals have had the chance over the previous 4 years to get to know me higher as a candidate – by my work and my values. I’ve additionally labored very arduous for people on varied points, and that is one thing that basically drives me – serving to individuals.”
Meehan mentioned the main focus of his marketing campaign can be constructing higher communities. “That’s what I’ve been engaged on for the previous 4 years. That is about delivering facilities, services and providers which can be wanted that might enhance everybody’s lives within the space: housing, transport, group and sporting infrastructure, schooling, policing, and well being providers. We’ve seen further strain on all our providers on account of a rise in inhabitants – I need to battle to make sure public providers match that, pretty.” Meehan secured €150,000 in 2022 for a youth service for the district, working with younger people who find themselves not in schooling, coaching or employment, in addition to over €500,000 in the beginning of 2023 for group providers from the Division of Rural and Group Improvement.
Meehan is personally affected by faulty concrete blocks. “That is clearly an enormous challenge for lots of people within the Milford Electoral Space, and one which I do know inside out. I do know the ache it causes, and I understand how tough and insufficient the present redress scheme is. It’s one more reason I need to run in these elections – we want higher illustration on this challenge that impacts so many individuals, and I imagine I’ll ship that.”
Meehan is initially from Milford, now residing in Ray, and is married to Dr Pádraig McGuinness, who is likely one of the GPs in Fanad. He has a level in Historical past, a Grasp’s in Politics, and a Postgraduate Certificates in each Human Rights Advocacy, and Charities Regulation and Governance.
“I’m trying ahead to persevering with to have interaction with individuals throughout the Milford Electoral Space and to assembly individuals on the doorways to listen to what they must say about the place we stay and the problems they face” Meehan concluded. “I can solely promise this: that I’ll proceed to do my greatest for everybody on a regular basis. If anybody desires to contact me they’ll achieve this on 085 194 7339.”
The 2024 native election is predicted to happen on the identical day because the European elections on June seventh 2024.
Declan Meehan declares 2024 native election bid was final modified: December twenty first, 2023 by
