Sinn Féin's Barry Campion says party can win two Dáil seats in Longford-Westmeath

Sinn Féin has have selected Barry Campion to run alongside Deputy Sorca Clarke as a second candidate in their general election ticket in Longford-Westmeath.

Mr Campion, who works in the medical devices industry, has lived in county Longford for 11 years and prior to that he spent several years in county Westmeath.

"I was involved in the community in Longford a good bit years ago," he said. "I was involved in setting up the Irish Red Cross in Longford and since I started running for election I have been dealing with people's issues on the ground and around North Longford I was looking after housing issues and things like that and I haven't stopped since the local election finished in June."

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Mr Campion ran for Sinn Féin in the local elections earlier this year receiving 253 first preference votes.

He stated the result was not very rewarding, however, he believed the campaign generally and the period leading up to the ballot was a "very good" experience.

"It was interesting and great to get the engagement we got on the ground," he said. "It's there that we learnt that people in county Longford and across the country want a change of Government."

Mr Campion insisted there is still significant support for Sinn Féin and he explained why they are running two candidates in the Longford-Westmeath constituency.

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"It is to get Sinn Féin into Government and to be able to change the Government and get rid of the desperate record that Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green party have had," he added.

Mr Campion said the party have two candidates as they believe they can win two seats.

"That's the aim, it is to get myself and Sorca elected and form a Government at the end of the election," he added.

Asked about what type of housing issues he has been helping people with Mr Campion stated a lot of people are becoming homeless.

"A lot of people are getting notices of termination and are being evicted and there are very few private renters in Longford and as anyone would tell you there is very few houses being built or for sale and very few social houses being built," he added.

Mr Campion said apart from the lack of availability of housing the quality and condition of some older social housing units across the county are 'sub par'.

Mr Campion said there are other private rental units in the town that lack basic necessities such as central heating and houses are in quite severe disrepair in many cases.

"There are housing lists on a lot of occasions that are a couple of years long and people do not see light at the end of the tunnel," he added.

Mr Campion said some businesses are expanding but their staff are unable to secure housing in Longford and they are forced to travel relatively long distances.

"That is not just the neighbouring counties but a bit further away as well," he said. "We are trying to attract a high-tech IDA business park into the town, which is all well and good but where are those people going to live?

Mr Campion, a county Kildare native, said that addressing hospital waiting lines and providing sustainable additional public transport are also important issues.

"A very important thing in Longford is to finally get the extension of the N4 across the line because it's been going on for years and its announcement after announcement and new routes and it just needs to be done," he said. "We are part of the country here in the Midlands that is neglected infrastructurally and that can't continue happening."