Local Elections candidate in Tipperary says drugs like crack cocaine and heroin are 'rampant' in Clonmel

Fine Gael’s Cllr Michael Murphy says that the regeneration and revitalisation of Clonmel's town centre would be helped by securing funding from the URDF (Urban Rural Development Fund).

He welcomes the progress being made on the two key strategic sites of Market Place and the Clonmel Arms, which he hopes will be the catalyst for further investment and development.

He says it is “absolutely vital” that the threat of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on Market Place, which he called for last year, would remain, in order to have the area developed.

He has welcomed the fact that a planning application is imminent for the 10,000 square metres advanced building solution on the IDA lands at Ballingarrane. With the building due to be delivered in the next 24 months, he says it is crucial that the IDA, in collaboration with Tipperary County Council, should reach out to international companies for expressions of interest in the building.

Cllr Murphy, a Clonmel native, also hopes to have the community policing model strengthened, as he says he has always been a champion of proactive policing rather than reactionary policing.

Meanwhile, Cllr Pat English (WUAG) says that “the awful mess” of the housing situation had been caused by the decision of successive governments to stop building houses.

“The lack of houses for people on the council list and for people trying to buy a house has forced a lot of people out of the country.

“People are voting with their feet,” he says.

“We need to get back to building a proper amount of houses and making housing affordable, because it’s nearly impossible for people to get a mortgage”.

He claims that the situation with Clonmel’s water supply had gone downhill since Uisce Éireann had taken over responsibility for the service, and the upkeep and maintenance of public water should be restored to the local authorities.

Cllr English says that Clonmel’s town centre is in need of major investment, and he hopes that it will be included in the next tranche of funding from the URDF.

Cllr English says that illegal drugs like crack cocaine and heroin are “rampant” around Clonmel. “We don’t see enough gardaí on the streets because we don’t have the numbers and this needs to be tackled,” he says.

Cllr English also says that a town the size of Clonmel needs a proper bypass.

“Every election is different and many different issues will arise during every election,” says another Local Elections candidate, Cllr Siobhán Ambrose (Fianna Fáil).

“The issues being raised with me on the doorsteps vary greatly from subjects like housing, roads, crime, childcare and climate action to items like grass cutting and tree pruning.

“I find that people are very engaging at the doors and as a result are eager to talk about the issues that are important to them and their families.

"While this is a local election, if someone does raise a national issue with me I do take the issue down and take the person’s details so that I can raise this issue with the relevant department on their behalf and revert back to them with the answer”.