Sinn Féin confident of performing strongly in local elections in Offaly

SINN FÉIN is confident of performing strongly in next year's local government elections in Offaly and expects to win at least one seat in each of the county's three electoral areas.

The party's spokesperson on disability and care, Deputy Pauline Tully made her prediction during a day long tour of the county on Friday last.

The Cavan based TD stopped off in Birr, Tullamore and Edenderry where she met with a number of local organisations including Offaly Down Syndrome Association.

In Tullamore she was accompanied by one of the party's two candidates in the electoral area, Theresa Bracken.

Sinn Féin's other candidate in Tullamore, Aoife Masterson was unavoidably absent on the day.

Both women were selected at the party's local elections convention in Tullamore last month.

Election conventions still have to be held in the Birr and Edenderry electoral areas though Deputy Tully said prospective candidates had been identified in both municipal districts.

She stressed that the party was confident of taking two seats in the Tullamore Electoral Area and said both candidates were very impressive.

She admitted that the party had performed dismally last time out in the local elections in the county but said that their consistently high ratings in opinion polls nationally should translate into a large number of votes.

“We are quietly confident that we will be in Government following the next general election,” added Deputy Tully who said the party aimed to take seats in each of the 43 constituencies around the country.

She predicted that the party would have two seats in a number of constituencies particularly in Dublin and the border counties.

“We have two seats already in Cavan/ Monaghan and are aiming to take a third next time out,” said the Sinn Féin spokesperson.

In neighbouring Tipperary, now comprised of two three seat constituencies, Ms Tully said Cashel based Martin Brown is confident of retaining his seat.

The party has yet to identify a candidate in the Tipperary North constituency and Ms Tully acknowledged that there had been difficulties there in the past.

She said that housing was the huge issue on the doorsteps but stressed there was no magic wand solution.

The Cavan TD said steps needed to be taken to bring the huge amount of vacant properties back into play.

She also said that more young people should be encouraged to take up apprenticeships and enter the construction trade.