Irish Political Roundup’s County Councillors Caucus Roundtable Discussion.
“The forgotten powerhouse of the Irish political system”
Joining Episode 9 of the Irish Political Roundup’s County Councillors Caucus Roundtable Discussion with Roisin Ni Chleirigh and Paul Brophy are returning panellist:
Independent Cllr Michael Sheehan for New Ross LEA -Wexford County Council is a longstanding Public Representative and former Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council.
Independent Cllr Jim Ryan who represents Thurles LEA on Tipperary County Council has been a public representative since 1999 and just missed out on the final seat in the 3-Seater North Tipperary Constituency during General Election 2024.
Fine Gael’s Cllr Michael Doyle, who represents the Callan Thomastown LEA on Kilkenny County Council. Cllr Doyle has been a Public Representative
since 2014 and is a Mayor and Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council.
Cllr Noel Thomas: Connemara LEA- Galway County Council. After 10 years as a Fianna Fail representative Cllr Thomas left Fianna Fail in 2024 to join Independent Ireland where he retained his council seat and will be their Galway West bye election candidate in 2026.
Some of the topics discussed on Episode 9 of the County Councillors Caucus Roundtable Discussion are:
The news that Wexford town will provide the location for a joint campus between the Southeast Technological University (SETU) and Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB), which will also be part of a housing development.
• After many years of waiting New Ross has secured funding for a new state of the art Ambulance Centre and new Primary Care Health Centre.
• How Local Authorities are finding it difficult to balance their budgets which has seen Commercial Rate increases for 2026 for local business across the Country including Tipperary were Commercial Rates will rise by 5.5%
• How after 58 years in waiting Thurles will receive funding for a bypass which will help to address the significant traffic problems in the town.
• We ask will increases in development charges, hit people in rural communities who what to build homes and important infrastructure.
• We talk about housing and affordable housing schemes which when you dig deeper are not that affordable
• Mercosur Trade deal why its bad for Irish farmers ever more so since the recent EU recall of Brazilian Beef.
• With a bye election in Galway West due to take place in 2026, Independent Ireland’s Candidate Cllr Noel Thomas shares his views on the big issues that will be coming up on the doors from Housing, Cost of Living and Irish Defence Forces.
Credit to : Irish Political Roundup