IF RESIDENTS in Gorey had their way, Wexford County Council would have busy year ahead putting in numerous ramps in estates and residential streets across the town.

It was the first issue that County Council candidate Michael Kinsella encountered as he knocked on doors on a wet evening in Hillcrest Drive, Gorey, last week.

‘I have four grandchildren, and cars speeding through the estate are a big worry,’ explained Margaret Flanagan.

It was an issue about which Michael said he had already written to the Council, as it’s a complaint that he has heard before. Having served on the County Council for the past two years, having been co-opted to the seat vacated by Michael D’Arcy Jnr. on his election to TD, Michael is hoping that his experience over the past two years will see him over the line this time.

Running on the FG ticket alongside first time candidates Ellen Lynch and John Hegarty, Michael is hoping that greater support will swing towards the party this time around. ‘I’m getting a very, very good reaction, particularly in the Ferns and Camolin areas,’ he said. ‘A lot of people saw me as a no-hoper last time as I was a late entrant, but I’m getting “yes” where I didn’t before.’

Resident Dan Breen was anxious to bring up the withdrawal of the Christmas bonus for pensioners – he was also concerned about jobs for the town. Michael agreed. ‘I’m on the County Enterprise Board, and there are people out there with good ideas for a business, and they need seed capital to get going,’ he commented.

Down on Eire Street, the conversation returned to ramps, as Town Council candidates Angie Dooley and Darren Keegan knocked on doors. ‘The biggest issue is speeding,’ commented Eunan Moore. ‘The speed ramps are too far apart. We had a protest at the end of the road about this. In the mornings it’s like the M50.’

‘Ninety per cent of the people on this street are elderly,’ he added. ‘You are taking your life into your hands when you try cross the road.’

Listening to the issues on the doors is proving to be an enjoyable experience for first time candidate Angie Dooley. ‘I suppose in the older parts of town you might get a slightly different response because people know you, but I do get a lovely reception all over – people are very warm towards the party,’ she said.

‘Education is a huge issue for young families, especially for those with children finishing primary school. People are concerned that the second post primary school is not going to be here for us in time,’ she added.

The Fine Gael Town Council election ticket includes sitting Councillors Cllr. Michael D’Arcy Snr. and Colin Webb, alongside the two new candidates.

Darren Keegan has some experience on the canvas trail, having gone around the doors with Michael D’Arcy Jnr. when he ran for TD. ‘He asked me to run, saying I was well known in the town and that I should give it a shot,’ recalled Darren. ‘I asked my wife, and she said “go for it”, so I did.’

He too is aware that everyone wants ramps! ‘We’d like to see Gorey becoming an Urban Council,’ he said. ‘A lot of streets and estates are looking for speed ramps. I wrote to the County Council but the reply I got was that there’s no money allocated for speed ramps. If we were a UDC, we would have some money to do things like that. You’d help as many as you could if money allowed, and that’s where you could make a difference.’

Dolores Dunne of Eire Street was anxious to make the candidates aware of the need of additional funding for educating children with special needs. ‘We’re three years fighting for speech and language therapy,’ she said. ‘You might as well be banging your head off the wall.’

Secondary school teacher Clare Grace also had educational issues on her mind. ‘There are issues around special needs resources, class sizes – the system is being run into the ground,’ she said. ‘We need people who will make proper decisions. We need intelligent people who know what they are talking about.’

‘Gorey is a thriving town,’ she added, ‘but there’s a huge lack of services. The schools situation will be dire if it’s not addressed. The secondary school is too big. The kids are going to fall through the net over the next few years, and it’s not going to be for ten to fifteen years that we see the effects these cuts are going to have.’

Issues, both at national level, and at local level, all seem to boil down to funding, and the candidates will spend the next few weeks knocking on doors, asking the public for a chance to make a difference as to where and how whatever money is out there, is spent.

- Fintan LAMBE