Given our population distribution, political debate in this country can often feel Dublin-centric. However, it’s rural issues such as the price of beef and access to transport and hospital care that could end up deciding the result of this weekend’s election, and the make up of the next government. Taryn de Vere, a Her contributor based in Donegal, spoke to women in her locality to find out what the pressing issues for them are ahead of GE2020.
Breeda McHugh from Letterkenny has been raising the availability and cost of childcare with any canvassers that knock on her door.
“It’s an issue I feel passionate about. My daughter in Kildare couldn’t get her baby into a baby room, so she keeps her four-year-old in the creche after school just so she can hold a place for her baby in a few years time. Healthcare is another big issue up here in Donegal.”
Valerie McNulty is a yoga teacher and carer who lives in Ballyshannon. She feels that Donegal has repeatedly been let down by successive governments.
“The further away you are from Dublin the less they care, the less funding there is received and the less facilities are available.”
Valerie McNulty
As a part time care worker, Valerie also has a unique insight into the problems faced by carers.
“Having been a carer to my mum with dementia, I know first hand how much this affects carers physically and mentally. We save the Government a lot of money and resources but yet only get €1.27 per hour for a 24/7 tough job. The need for extra home help hours and respite centres is extremely high in Donegal.”
Valerie also volunteers helping people who are being evicted.
“Donegal has the highest amount of eviction cases by the banks per capita in the country. Banks don’t want to negotiate with people. There are little to no social houses being built to look after these people when they become homeless. The North West Simon Community are bursting at the seams.”
For Danielle Bonner who lives in Donegal Town, the lack of local women in decision making political roles is a pressing issue.
“In 100 years Donegal has only ever had two female TDs. At the local level, four out of 37 county Councillors are women – this is a shameful state of affairs.”
Danielle believes Donegal people are discriminated against as they have very little access to affordable and reliable public transport. “It shouldn’t have to take four hours to get to Dublin, and it’s not even cheap when you do take the bus.”
Job creation is another area that she feels passionately about.
“When people talk of job creation they are referring to Dublin, but what about rural Ireland? Donegal is in need of the creation of diverse job opportunities. People – particularly young people – shouldn’t have to move away to find work that pays enough to have a decent life.”
Roisin is 48 and from Gweedore. She says she has seen her elderly relatives suffer due to the state of the health system.
“There’s not enough beds in the hospital. Women with cancer have to go to Dublin or to Galway. The retirement age is an issue too – that is just crazy.”
Eileen is 76 and from Kilmacrennan. She has had personal experience of hospital waiting lists.
“The hospitals are a problem. I’d to wait five months to get an appointment with a chiropodist, they don’t even have one in Letterkenny. I had to go to Lifford and pay a taxi to get there. It’s terrible.”
Colette Keeney
Colette Keeney has run Tokyo, a women’s eveningwear shop in Letterkenny, for 22 years. When her long-time landlord went into liquidation Colette tried to buy her premises from the bank but it was instead sold to a vulture fund. She is now moving her business out of Letterkenny to a rural location closer to Derry.
“I do pay a lot of tax and VAT but I just know it’s not going to the right places. I’d like my taxes and VAT to go towards healthcare and ending poverty. That we have homeless children really disturbs me.”
Ultimately, Colette feels that rural counties like Donegal are overlooked when it comes to making political decisions.
“We’re stuck up here in the North West and Donegal is forgotten so much of the time. We don’t get the same attention as Dublin.”
