Sinn Féin - Delivering for Dublin
Speaking this morning from the Sinn
Féin bookshop on 58 Parnell Square where the party launched its 5-point
plan for Dublin and unvieled a massive 20 by 30 foot election banner,
general election candidate and MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald said Sinn
Féin is well on track to significantly increase its number of TDs in Dublin.
The
Dublin Central candidate said:
“Sinn Féin is a party on the move in Dublin
city. We have made significant gains in every election in the last decade
and we now have 14 councillors, 2 TDs and an MEP and our support continues
to grow.
“Our representatives and activists are
delivering on the ground in our communities' everyday but we want to do
more. We want Sinn Féin Ministers in government making decisions that can
transform the provision of housing, health, education, public transport and
tackle the scourge of drug abuse.
“One of the biggest challenges facing
the city is planning - dealing with the problems caused by the abuse of
planning in the 1980s and coming up with innovative solutions to provide the
infrastructure, jobs and public services necessary to ensure a good quality
of life for everyone who lives and works here.
“Sinn Féin has set itself ambitious
but achievable goals to win further Dáil seats for Dublin. We are in
government in the north and we are ready for government in the south. Over
the last decade others have promised change, Sinn Féin will deliver it.
“Sinn Féin's 5-point plan for Dublin:
.
Get Dublin moving - Invest in public transport - 500 extra buses for the
city and an integrated ticketing system. All public transport is accessible
to people with disabilities.
. Proceed
with the new National Children's Hospital at the Mater Hospital site. Retain
the maximum possible number of paediatric services and in-patient beds at Tallaght
Hospital and retain Crumlin Children's Hospital as a child-focussed
healthcare facility.
. Reduce class
sizes to 20 for all children under 9 and provide sufficient local school
places.
. 30% social and affordable
housing in all new developments and legislation to improve the quality and
size of homes and apartments being built across the city. We will eliminate
street homelessness in the city by 2010 and legislate to require that any
social housing stock sold is replaced on a unit-for-unit basis, with the
profits received by local government ring-fenced and matched by central
government to replenish social housing stock.
.
Appoint a Minister of State with sole responsibility for drugs issues - we
want to see more resources and planning to tackle the ongoing drugs crisis -
increased provision of residential detox beds and investment in education,
prevention and recovery projects.” ENDS