This is our election to make our voice heard loud and clear #LongfordWestmeathElection2024

The beauty of being a newsagent is that you can read all the newspapers, and last Sunday an article by Pat Spillane in the Sunday World caught my attention.

Love him or hate him. Pat always has his own opinion and is not shy about expressing it. This article, if you can access the link, is definitely worth reading.

This week he reminded us of the time he was appointed “ambassador of the Action Plan for Rural Ireland”, which lasted two and a half years.

He goes on to say that we are told that we have full employment, a strong economy and plenty of money in the treasury. He goes on to say that too many people are homeless and cannot own or build their own homes. Healthcare is a complete mess, our trained nurses, doctors and teachers are forced to go abroad to work. According to him, we export our brightest talents.

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This made me think that our government is not giving them the opportunity to live, work and save in our country. Every day we hear about the cost of living rising to the point where grandparents are caring for their grandchildren’s children, you can’t get on doctor’s lists because they’re all full, houses can’t be bought or rented, and single people are moving in and out . relationships return to their family homes only to save money for a deposit. Gone are the days when you could work and save money.

Rural Ireland is dying on its feet due to lack of investment. Although the Government’s national plan is to direct new businesses seeking to enter Ireland to the five main towns, unless the owner specifically requests that they be located in a particular location, it naturally follows that rural Ireland will become a place of isolation.

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As we listen to what turned out to be a winless election with so many promises from all parties, you wonder what happened in the previous 5 years of government.

However, there has been, and I expect no party to mention, rural revitalization, where new businesses or industries will be sent to rural parts of the country.

There will undoubtedly be no changes to planning rules and fees to enable young people to return, build and live in their own communities.

I mentioned earlier that Lanesborough should become the workers’ center that it has been since the early 50’s and that the benefits to all surrounding communities would be the basis of rural regeneration for all surrounding communities.

The disappearance of employment opportunities in rural areas is creating many problems for businesses, clubs and associations, and the brain drain that is so often talked about here will increase until there is nothing left but an old community with one or no store, but only bus. to take you to the big city for shopping.

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We look at the parishes around us, as well as our own community, and see the decline of businesses in our villages and towns, and the situation will only get worse. Unfortunately, we cannot say that it will get worse before it gets better, because as it stands the situation will not improve.

When every politician or his representative knocks on your door, you must ask all the relevant questions that affect you, your family, your community and your local working community, and not make empty promises.

At the time of writing, several agitators visited our area. Unfortunately, they visited all the estates but did not venture down the main street to meet the town’s business representatives and hear what they had to say.

A flyer in your mailbox with the words “Sorry I missed you” isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.

It is our choice to make our voice heard loud and clear like never before, and to ensure that we elect those who you know will speak for and achieve for your own community.