‘Meet the candidates’ in Roscrea

Roscrea Community Development Council (RCDC) will hold its traditional ‘Election meeting’ in the town’s Abbey Hall on Monday, May 20, at 8pm. By that date, the nominations of candidates for the Local and European Elections will have closed.

The Chairman of RCDC John Lupton says that “the meeting will be open to everyone and primarily intended for the public to question and hear from local election candidates from Roscrea/Templemore Electoral Area, whose names will appear on the Local Election Ballot Paper for the Local Elections for those voting in Roscrea and District”.

He says that the next five years will be an important period for Roscrea’s development as the town is now facing very many challenges. In terms of infrastructure, employment opportunities for younger people, business supports and development, the challenges are huge. Thus, Roscrea and district needs the strongest possible voice at municipal council and county council level and on the various committees of these councils to support Roscrea’s much needed development over the next five years. In terms of infrastructure, business development and opportunity for our younger population, Roscrea, while having benefitted from some development, which must be acknowledged, has nonetheless lost ground relative to its neighbouring towns in the past number of years. This trend needs to be reversed and effectively tackled in the years ahead.

The RCDC Chairman says also that they are issuing an open invitation to candidates in the European Parliament Elections for the Ireland South constituency, of which Roscrea is on a periphery. “I’m sure Roscrea may not be on the top of many of their electoral agendae,” he said. “However, in the context of balanced regional development, they should take an interest in Roscrea and the challenges facing the town and its people.

“Thus, we are hopeful that some of the European candidates for Ireland South may consider it worth their while to visit Roscrea on May 20, and attend our election public meeting and listen to the concerns of Roscrea people and the challenges facing them, especially in the context of balanced regional development and Roscrea’s present relative disadvantage in that regard.”

RCDC is hopeful for a good turnout of people in the town’s Abbey Hall at 8pm on Monday, May 20, to “meet the candidates”.