Oisín Ó hAlmhain (Green Party)

candidate Dáil election

Dear Sue,

Personally, I am pro-life.

I will at my own discretion, use my own conscience to make decisions as appropriate.

However, I find the issue divisive in Irish Society, and I think both the pro-choice and pro-life campaigners would be better served in looking to solve the problems, social, educational and otherswise, that lead women and their partners to have to make choices involving abortion.

Regards

Oisín

Dear Sue,

While playgrounds are a local issue, we need to change planning laws nationally to include playgrounds and green spaces as a requirement of any future developments. This is as relevant in rural Ireland as it is in inner-city Dublin.

We also need to look at public liability issues to try and release as much derelict land as possible to provide facilities for playgrounds and allotments.

On the issue of education, I understand that the Catholic Church has offered to transfer the patronage of primary schools where appropriate. I think it is time for the government to take them up on this offer, where there is demand. I think that parents, particularly in urban areas where there is demand, should have choices when sending their children to school.

Portobello is in fact in Dublin South East (John Gormley´s area) but I understand that Griffith Barracks school in this area is oversubscribed. I am also not fully briefed on the Portobello issue, and think that if elected to the Dáil would prefer to see issues sorted out on a national basis.

With regards

Oisín

Dear

Apologies for the delay in replying. My childcare arrangements are that I look after my daughter on Thursdays, which can make it hard to reply to e-mails. Hopefully this will have reached you before you go to the polling station.

Specific location of playgrounds is an issue for the Council, but I think there needs to be a directive that states that there should be playgrounds within walking distance of all homes in all built up areas.

Regarding Rialto, and the worry about antisocial behaviour in playgrounds, I think if there were enough playgrounds and facilities for children and teenagers, then the gathering of teenagers would not be a problem. Of course not all gathering of teenagers is in fact antisocial behaviour (It doesn´t seem like 20 years since I was gathering on green spaces in the Summer...) I think the park on Dolphin Road you mentioned would be good, but there is also some spaces along the SCR and a few derelict sites that could be used.

Regarding bus routes, the green party tried in the last government to introduce legislation for a directly elected mayor for Dublin, who would be in charge of things like public transport. At the moment Dublin Bus don´t seem to be accountable to anyone. I think we need new services on small electric, wheelchair and pram accessible buses to look after the areas between the canals, but above everything we need accountability. If there is a campaign about the 19 (and the 121) let me know about it, and I will join whether I am elected or not.

There are some great villages in Dublin 8, and we really need to work to bring them back to their full potential. The Green Party have ideas that empty shops could be used as "incubator units" for start up businesses, which would bring more vitality. I am also trying to start a buy local, eat local campaign, which will also help to revitalise the area. (see www.real-dublin.ie)

Regards & thanks for getting in touch.

Oisín