Potholes, dereliction and broadband are key election issues in south Mayo

Michael Burke, a Ballinrobe-based candidate in the local elections, has outlined the three big issues he’s encountering on the doorsteps throughout the south Mayo region.

Burke stated that there’s some issues which are prevalent in some areas and not in others but the issues common throughout relate to broadband, roads and dereliction.

The Fine Gael representative elaborated: “I welcome the announcement earlier last week that National Broadband Ireland will commence the broadband roll out later this year and I congratulate Minister Michael Ring on fighting hard for rural Ireland on this issue.

"This is vitally important for our region and regardless of cost needs to be implemented to support rural Ireland.

“In relation to roads, I am delighted to see that some elected representatives have started to take notice of the poor condition of many roads in the south Mayo region over the past month or so, there is nothing like an election to improve the detection of potholes among councillors.

“I do accept that the area has suffered from a lack of funding for the past five years and that this can only resolved by electing a third councillor in the area but there are a lot of issues in our area that have not even been on the radar until election time.

“The traffic management plan for Ballinrobe is currently on display in council offices and I would encourage everyone to go and view this proposal as now is the time to voice your opinions.

“On the topic of dereliction, I am calling on Mayo County Council to take a more proactive approach to dereliction in Ballinrobe town and surrounding villages.

“We have prime properties lying idle for the past number of years which could be used to create employment and provide housing in the area.

"I would like to see the council engage with the owners of properties and formulate a collaborative plan to bring them back into use or alternatively where this cannot be agreed I am calling on the council to purchase these by way of compulsory purchase order.

“Overall while on the campaign trail, the level of engagement I have seen from people on the doorsteps in relation to local issues has been fantastic.”